Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar congratulated the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal (NVAT) for being the one of the best performing food terminals in the country.
Dar also commended the farmers of Nueva Vizcaya, particularly the members of NVAT, for being the brave heroes in the countryside.
“They are the major producers of food not only needed by Nueva Vizcaya, but also the other provinces in the country,” he said.
During its 18th anniversary celebration on December 13, 2019 in Bambang, Nueva Vizcaya, the Secretary wished that NVAT will be the model of other agricultural terminals.
“Through the years, NVAT is able to respond to the changing circumstances for agricultural terminals,” Dar said.
Marketing strategies
During the farmers’ forum, NVAT General Manager Gilbert Cumila presented the profile of the local fruit and vegetable industry and discussed several business ventures that will improve the terminal’s marketing system and increase the income of farmers.
One of the strategies identified was the partnership with iFarms, Inc., which was recently established and managed by a group of young people who are interested in advancing the agriculture sector. Led by CEO and Founder Jairus Ferrer, iFarms aims at directly connecting the farmers and buyers through technology.
By early 2020, the company is set to launch its online agri-marketing tool for producers called Uma mobile application that is seen to open earning opportunities for farmers and provide transparent price information for consumers.
Secretary Dar proposed that NVAT partner with Air21, which has expressed its intent to buy agricultural produce to maximize its backload. He said that NVAT will be the pilot site for the Air21 project.
Air21 will also partner with DA for the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita On-Wheels project intended to bring fresh agricultural produce closer to consumers particularly those in subdivisions in metro areas.
New projects
During the forum, Dar announced that a food-processing center will be ready for NVAT farmers’ use by next year to maximize their produce and provide additional income.
He also requested the NVAT management to identify other projects that will help the farmers be more competitive for it to be prioritized by the DA-Regional Field Office in Cagayan Valley.
Solar-powered irrigation system projects will also be given to the local government units of Nueva Vizcaya provided that they have a geo resistivity certification ensuring that the irrigation has a sustainable water source.
Modernization, industrialization, farm consolidation, and infrastructure development are among the eight paradigms that make up the “New Thinking” for Philippine Agriculture in order to realize DA’s vision of a food-secure country with prosperous farmers and fisherfolk. ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin, DA-AFID)
