Pacquiao farm tour included in 7th veggie congress
abs-cbnNEWS.com | 07/03/2009 11:56 AM
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General Santos City, the Philippines' "Tuna Capital," is set to host the 7th National Vegetable Congress this month to showcase opportunities in the vegetable sector amid the economic downturn.
According to congress chairman and Central Mindanao Vegetable Industry Development Council (CEMVIDEC) president Jovic Santos, the local vegetable industry is now feeling the greater impact of globalization as more foreign-produced agricultural crops continue to enter the domestic market.
Given this, he said the country's vegetable growers should use this event as an opportunity to further improve their competitiveness.
"It's an opportunity for the national industry to take advantage of new opportunities for the Philippine vegetable sector," he said in a statement.
The vegetable congress was organized by CEMVIDEC in partnership with the Department of Agriculture, the local governments of General Santos and Sarangani, and USAID's (United States Agency for International Development) Growth with Equity in Mindanao program. It will be held at the Family Country Hotel and Convention Center in General Santos City from July 14 to 16.
Institutional buyers, including concessionaires of Manila-based supermarket chains and major food processors, will meet with vegetable producers at the vegetable congress to discuss volume and quality requirements, as well as delivery and distribution.
The congress will also feature an agricultural trade exhibit and a tour to the vegetable farm of boxer Manny Pacquiao in Malungon, Saranggani province.
Santos said the Mindanao vegetable growers have made efforts to strengthen links between production and marketing of vegetables in the island-region. In recent years, vegetable producer associations such as CEMVIDEC, the Northern Mindanao Vegetable Producer Association, and the Vegetable Industry Council of Southern Mindanao have worked to introduce best farming practices such as production clustering among their members.
“Through market-matching events such as this, growers can directly link up with buyers and penetrate profitable markets,” he said.
Participants in the event are expected to present their recommendations to the government on how to address issues surrounding the vegetable industry.
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