- MITCH M. LIPA
Another outlet of Abanse Farmers Market was launched in Barangay Ma-ao, Bago City in Negros Occidental Sept. 16.
Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena, and Reynic Alo, MUAD Negros executive director, led the launching and turnover of meat shop marketing and post-harvest facilities.
The farmers’ market offers products of farmers in the locality where they are grown and ensures freshness and quality of food to be served on the table.
The program also aims to create employment to the barangay or municipality.
Decena said this does not only promote accessibility but is also a timely response to the pandemic that restricts or limits the movement of household in buying food for the family and saves time and transport cost as buying food is just within reached.
It promotes and encourages community-based entrepreneurship, especially among unemployed Negrense women, who want to bring in additional income in the household.
The PVO also extended assistance, like meat shop marketing and post-harvest facilities, amounting to P250,000. The package included a meat grinder, a meat slicer, bone saw cutter, chiller and glass top chest type freezer.
Decena said the program is an integration of marketing fresh farm products of rice, vegetables, fruits and fresh meat, and anchored on agricultural competitiveness improvement and food security and the advancement of economic, trade, investment and employment opportunities. – MML
