By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
Laoag
City—As the Philippines gears up for the
ASEAN market integration, Ilocos farmers here have expressed their commitment
to increase their productivity and improve the quality of their produce through
sustainable organic farming.
Backed by the Department of
Agriculture (DA) jointly with the provincial government of Ilocos Norte, a
number of outstanding farmers’ groups and associations in Ilocos Norte are
making waves in producing organically-grown high value crops such as fruits and
vegetables ready for the ASEAN market integration.
On November 2007, ASEAN
leaders including the Philippines signed a blueprint for the ASEAN Economic
Community (AEC) by 2015 to create a single market and production base by
ensuring a free flow of goods, services, investment and skilled labor.
As a result, ASEAN products
and services starting this year will now have zero import duties while ASEAN
member states will now also be allowed to work anywhere in the region without a
work permit.
In Ilocos Norte,
farmer-entrepreneurs here have welcomed this development as the integration is
expected to boost investments, job creation and income.
According to provincial
agriculturist Norma Lagmay, Ilocos farmers continue to adopt new technologies
and innovations geared towards modern agriculture and sustainable development.
As of this posting, the
Provincial Agriculture Office continue to organize farmers’ field day to
showcase outstanding farmer-scientists best practices in the region and for
them to be inspired along the way.
To boost farmers’
productivity, Ilocos Norte has partnered with high end retail stores in the
province include the Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association of
the Philippines (VIEVA) to bring their products closer to the local and
international market.
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