La Trindad benchmarked for agri-learning site

BENGUET’S capital town of La Trinidad remains a top benchmark for agricultural learning site.

Municipal Tourism Officer Valred Olsim said the town serve as learning site for non-government organizations, institutions and local government units where majority of the seven agricultural learning sites in the Cordillera are located in La Trinidad.

The town has been tagged as the strawberry capital of the country while promoting organic agriculture and a center for highland temperate vegetable trading.

Just recently, the Benguet Provincial Board has given favorable review to the Farm Tourism Ordinance of the Valley.

Proponent and committee on tourism chairman Councilor Roderick Awingan said plans, programs, projects and activities are being laid out related to farm tourism in the valley.

With La Trinidad paving the way for farm tourism, the valley’s strawberry farm remains the top tourist spot in the valley which benefits 250 establishments, 660 farmers, 114 strawberry by-products producers, and 150 ice cream vendors.

It was learned La Trinidad’s economy is hinged on the strawberry farming industry which generates more than 100 million from its products such as strawberry jam, strawberry picking among others.

La Trinidad was re-

cently ranked fourth in the economic dynamism category during the national competitive index for first to second municipality.

To incorporate far tourism in the valley, Jefferson Laruan’s farm will serve as a demo farm that will cater to different organic products and livestock at Sitio Ampasit, Wangal in La Trinidad.

Laruan is a fourth generation farmer who has been into organic farming for 13 years and was certified in 2017. He is one of the 22 listed organic farming learning sites in the region.

Laruan together with his wife Elisa, manage their demo-farm and training farmers to venture into organic farming.

In nearby barangay Beckel, the Cosmic Farm owned by Rogel Marsan described as an epitome of organic agriculture since 1989 will also be included.

SSB photo P100 MILLION INDUSTRY. Tourism students pick fresh strawberries at Benguet State University owned agricultural land in La Trinmdad, Benguet. With La Trinidad eyeing stronger farm tourism program, the strawberry farm and by product industry is set to benefit.