Mt. Province – Mountain Province potato farmers production seen to improve with the establishment of Potato Tuber Production and Marketing Enterprise under the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) and with the support of their LGU.
DA-PRDP officially turned over the ₱ 12.41 million projects to the Sadsadan Association of Vegetable Producers, Inc. (SAVPI) on Tuesday November 16.
With the adaptation of farming technologies, the enterprise will provide quality potato planting materials, and make it accessible to potato growers in Bauko and its neighboring potato-producing municipalities.
The enterprise includes a storage facility and three greenhouse structures for the production of potato tubers and a hauling truck to facilitate the transport of their produce.
DA-CAR OIC-Regional Executive Director Cameron P. Odsey said that more farmers will benefit if they produce their own planting materials instead of importing them as he emphasized the importance of technology adoption in producing quality planting materials.
On the part of LGU, Bauko Mayor Abraham B. Akilit advised the SAVPI officers to maximize the use of the facilities and truck in accordance to their responsibility of maintaining it.
SAVPI Chair Teresita Gaocen expressed her gratitude to the DA-PRDP and to the LGU for the fulfillment of their enterprise subproject. (Joseph Manzano with reports and photo from Elvy T. Estacio)