DA-CAR kicks off regionwide ASPIRE
THE DEPARTMENT of Agriculture – Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) in collaboration with the Department of Trade and Industry ( DTICAR) and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry Cordillera (PCCI-CAR) kicked off the regionwide Agribusiness Support for Promotion and Investments in Regional Exposition ( ASPIRE) on December 10 in Baguio City.
Featuring platforms for market matching, KADIWA retailing, agribusiness investment fora, and new normal marketing discussions, the ASPIRE was attended by 111 farmers and entrepreneurs across Cordillera.
Organized through DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), this year’s ASPIRE revolves around agribusiness resiliency amidst global uncertainties posed by the coronavirus pandemic.
The launching was attended by Miss Earth Water 2020 Roxanne Allison Baeyens, DACAR regional director Cameron Odsey, PCCICAR executive director Trinidad Trinidad, DTICAR regional director Myrna Pablo, and DACAR technical director Danilo Daguio.
Baeyens shared her experiences during the onslaught of the pandemic and emphasized during this current climate of fear and uncertainty she realized that farming is never a joke.
Baeyens during her pageant journey has been a vocal supporter and advocate of agriculture and narrated her encounters with farmers encouraging the youth to take part
in agriculture.
“I also feel for the farmers. I hope that through this ASPIRE, they would be able to earn what they deserve. Farmers work hard to be able to provide for their families. To create a way of living, to send their children to school, so I hope we consider that because their dreams are valid,” shared the Igorota beauty queen.
Meanwhile, Odsey underscored the current opportunities amidst the challenges of the dreaded pandemic. He encouraged participants to tap amplified government efforts in unfolding farmer potentials and capacities as successful entrepreneurs.
“I understand that even if we want to do what we want to do, to follow our passion but sometimes our passion are precisely tempered by this pandemic. That is why DA, DTI, and other agencies, we are to continuously support our farmers through agribusiness. We will help you learn how to do it in this new normal,” assured Odsey.
Discussions on agribusiness resiliency and innovation, Agribusiness E-commerce, social media marketing, product photography and videography, and market matching were conducted.