DA putting up trading centers in Bulacan, Taguig

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) is setting aside P600 million for the establishment of farmers’ trading centers that will serve as distribution network for homegrown produce.

Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said the trading centers, which cost approximately P300 million each, would be located in Bulacan and Taguig.

“This will also serve as meeting place for farmers. We are in the planning stage already,” he said.

The implementation of the project is targeted by the second quarter of 2017.

The department will build the trading center in Meycauayan, Bulacan for produce coming from the north, while Taguig City will serve the farmers from the south.

The farmers’ trading centers will become the delivery point of all products coming from the provinces and are seen to help farmers market and sell their goods.

“Vegetables, fruits, native chicken, goats, pork, organic farm eggs and others could be put on display in the farmers’ trading center allowing the farmers to sell their produce without going through the rigors of looking for buyers and a place to sell their products,” Piñol said.

He said live crabs, high-value live fish, shrimps and even dried fish coming from Sulu, Zamboanga, Surigao, Samar, Leyte, Iloilo, Palawan, Mindoro and Quezon could also be sold wholesale in the farmers’ trading center.

Piñol earlier said vegetable farmers from the Cordilleras have complained of losing money and facing a crisis due to the decision of the Manila government to not allow the display and sale of vegetables along the streets of Divisoria.

Traders have reportedly reduced the volume of the vegetables they buy from the highland farmers because of difficulties in selling these in Manila’s traditional vegetable market.