BAMBANG, Nueva Vizcaya (PIA) - The Department of Agriculture and the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal (NVAT) in this town have forged an agreement to ensure that upland and lowland vegetable farmers have a market for their produce.

Agriculture Regional Executive Director Mary Rose Aquino said the agreement with the NVAT involves the implementation of a so-called 'Buying Rescue Program' to address the influx of vegetables at the agricultural terminal and prevent dumping of unsold vegetable products.

“We have immediately agreed to implement the buying rescue program. Vegetables such as local cabbage, chinese cabbage, and sayote shall be sold in our KADIWA outlets regionwide,” she said.

Through the agreed marketing scheme, various KADIWA outlets of the DA Region 2 will buy 15,000 kilos of assorted vegetable products from the NVAT as an initial purchase at P5 per kilo with a total profit of P75,000.

Aquino said the DA-NVAT pact was forged during her recent meeting with NVAT General Manager Gilbert Cumila.

She also called for multi-sectoral support from the local government units, national government agencies, and private sectors to stop crop destruction during surplus harvest by helping the farmers market their produce.

Aquino said their agency is ready to assist farmers in marketing their products through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division.

“We advise our farmers not to throw away their produce in case of surplus. Just coordinate with our AMAD through 09177708730 or talk to your local government units particularly the office of the municipal or city agriculturist for market linkage,” Aquino said. 

The NVAT, a private corporation serves as the major trading center of upland and lowland farmers’ agricultural products in Nueva Vizcaya supported by the DA, DTI, and the United States Agency for International Development. (OTB/BME/PIA Nueva Vizcaya)