Tubungan farmers train on quality assurance, marketing operations

ILOILO CITY - Members of the Male Farmers’ Association in Tubungan town in Iloilo underwent training on quality assurance and marketing operations for the recently completed Bayanihan Tipon Center (BTC), December 3, 2018.

The BTC is a R2,134,000- worth marketing structure funded under the Panay Island Upland Sustainable Rural Development Project (PIU-SRDP) of the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office 6 and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

With this marketing aid, Tubungan farmers are encouraged to produce more high-quality vegetables and upland crops for their sustainable local food system and livelihood source.

Ian Calibara of the DA High-Value Crops Development Program explained to the farmers the proper postharvest handling practices for vegetables which will be employed in order to ensure quality produce. Calibara urged farmers to strengthen their organic farming, and adoption of Good Agricultural Practices so they can meet the standard requirement of their institutional buyers.

Meanwhile, the association’s marketing and management plans were presented and assessed by the panel of judges—Engr. Gerry Lete of the DA marketing division, Isabel Blancia of the National Economic and Development Authority, and Dr. Yoon Haejin, KOICA consultant.

“Brgy. Male is 4.5 kilometers away from the town proper and is 46.5 kilometers from Iloilo City. It has 33 members and is being chaired by Antonio Tabafa, Sr. The [BTC] project here will serve as a