By
Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
LAOAG
CITY—The Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association (VIEVA) of the
Philippines is eyeing for more than 1,000 hectares of idle and crucial
agricultural areas in Ilocos Norte to produce off-season vegetables starting this
August.
Estrella
Sacro of the Environment and Natural Resources Office under the Provincial
Government of Ilocos Norte said representatives of VIEVA Philippines
conducted a site inspection here recently to enter into a contract of agreement
with Ilocos Norte farmers to expand additional farm lands for the exportation
of the country’s agricultural products.
According
to the Department of Agriculture, Ilocos Norte’s favorable climate condition
allows the growing of off-season vegetables such as onions and garlic and other
high value crops like ginger, paminta,
monggo and achuete.
By
August, VIEVA will be distributing quality seeds to upland farmers particularly
in Pasuquin and Vintar for the large-scale growing of these high value crops
for export.
Aside
from sharing with small farmers the marketing side of its business, VIEVA
Philippines in partnership with the Ilocos Norte government also provides
technical assistance to Ilocos farmers to ensure the continuity of local food
supply.
VIEVA
is currently engaged in the speedy delivery of garlic produce to market outlets
in Manila; the exportation of shallots harvested in the Ilocos provinces and
Nueva Ecija; successful harvests and sales of ginger, lowland & upland
vegetables, onions and garlic produced by farmers in Nueva Ecija, Ilocos provinces,
Pampanga Nueva Vizcaya, Mindoro, Pangasinan, Tarlac, Siquijor, Zambales,
Mindanao area and Batanes.
This
time, VIEVA is helping Ilocos farmers to expand their production of garlic and
onion farms with a high demand in the market.
Strategically
located in key areas of the country, VIEVA Philippines Inc. is reaching out to
Ilocos farmers to boost the country’s economic development programs and in
response to the national government’s call to engage more Filipino
entrepreneurs participate in inclusive growth.
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