Day: March 3, 2021

Kidapawan City Government fortifies support to local farmers; launches first-ever Vegetable Trading Post

KIDAPAWAN CITY (March 2, 2021) – The Kidapawan City Government has again fortified its support to local farmers with the launching of the new and first-ever Vegetable Trading Post today March 2, 2021 in Barangay Magsaysay, Kidapawan City.

Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph A. Evangelista tasked the City Agriculturist Office headed by Marissa T. Aton to engage with the Kidapawan City Vegetable Growers Association (KCVGA) in order to put up a trading post that will cater wholesale buyers.

“This is one way to increase the income of our vegetable growers because we let them deliver different kinds of vegetables in large quantity and to let wholesalers take advantage by buying these vegetables in volume”, said Mayor Evangelista.

Mayor Evangelista was ably represented by City Legal Officer Atty. Jose Paolo M. Evangelista who thanked the KCVGA for trusting the city government in its advocacy programs to help the agriculture sector who are still reeling with the adverse effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

In his message, Atty. Evangelista highlighted three important points. First, the City Government of Kidapawan is delighted to have put up the first-ever Vegetable Trading Post; second, the sector of agriculture this year so far has the biggest budget allocation; and third; the involvement of the youth in the agriculture sector is something to be emulated.

“This is the fruit of the effective partnership of the City Agriculturist Office and the local vegetable growers. So far, the City Government this year allotted the biggest budget to agriculture in order to boost local food production in the city; The City Government believes that by ensuring food production and livelihood the people can also attain self-sufficiency. It’s just a matter of bridging support to them in terms of training and capacity building to finally bring out their potentials.

Joel T. Rivera, Sales Marketing and Development Manager of PITAC-Multi-Purpose Cooperative as partner-stakeholder gave a message during the program where he encouraged the vegetable growers to be more enthusiastic and seize every opportunity that will boost their production. “The establishment of the Vegetable Training Post is a big opportunity especially to members of the KCVGA whose produce can now have bigger market”, he said.

In response, Justin Deo C. Javier, President of KCVGA urged all members of the organization to continue their endeavor to increase the supply of vegetable as they already have a place to deliver their harvests. “I want to express my gratitude to the City Government of Kidapawan for engaging our organization in this notable project and to my fellow growers let’s just go and aim higher production as we do not have to worry anymore on where to sell our products” said Javier as he looks forward for more projects with the City Government.

After the launching program the traders started to buy a wide variety of vegetables such as eggplant, radish, pechay, ampalaya, squash, tomatoes, cauliflowers, ube, and many others.

The Vegetable Trading Post will operate every Tuesdays and Saturdays 7AM to 5PM with minimum health protocols to be observed such as wearing of face masks, face shield, among others. (AJPME/jscj)