QUEZON CITY -- Farmer representatives who are members of agrarian reform beneficiaries organizations (ARBOs) displayed and sold their various food and non-food products during the National Trade Fair 2023 held at the Megatrade Halls at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City from August 22-27, 2023, to gain wide markets for their products.

Primitiva N. Magno, treasurer of Tuban Blessed Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative in Occidental Mindoro proudly showed their buri-designed products such as laptop bags, sling bags, placemats, certificate holders, traveling bags, and handbags.

“It is an honor and privilege for us to bring the organization’s native products and show it to a bigger market. We are appealing to the public to support us in terms of promoting, patronizing, and buying our own local products,” Magno said.

She disclosed that their organization was established on October 8, 2008, and has been successfully operating for fifteen (15) years with the support provided by the DAR and other government agencies.

The Department of Agrarian Reform through the Bureau of Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Development-Livelihood Enterprise Development Division and its regional and provincial counterparts facilitated the participation of the ARBO representatives in the 2023 Hybrid National Trade Fair 2023 to establish market linkages with prospective institutional buyers.

Participants in the trade fair include ARBOs from the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, MIMAROPA, Davao Region, and CARAGA.

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)–Bureau of Domestic Trade Promotion hosted the trade fair showcasing sustainable, green, and eco-friendly materials and products and digital innovation for micro, small, and medium enterprises.

DTI had been the DAR’s partner in training the ARBs for the processing of their food and non-food products to establish a more profitable livelihood enterprise aside from farming.

A rich selection of processed food products was showcased and sold to the public such as turmeric, ginger, coffee, banana chips, taro & camote chips, chili sauce, honey, banna blend rice brew, pineapple wine, pineapple vinegar, pineapple jam, pineapple wallpaper and dried pineapple and non-food products such buri bags, home decors and health essentials. (DAR)