DA AMAD LINKED NUEVA ECIJA KALABASA FARMERS TO BUYERS
TALUGTUG, NUEVA ECIJA—The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 3 through Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division linked to Ateneo de Manila and Tanging Yaman Foundation the Buted Small Water Impounding Project (SWIP) Association to market their harvested kalabasa.
A total of 48 metric tons of squash were sold to liked markets, the 30 metric tons were sold to the Ateneo de Manila last September 30, 2020 and another 28 metric tons by the Ateneo Center for Educational Development in tandem with the Tanging Yaman Foundation on October 15, 2020.
Ateneo de Manila run by priests has long been a partner of DA AMAD who always buys the produce of local farmers especially Central Luzon while Tanging Yaman Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit organization that is helping Filipinos in need. The squash they bought will be used as a relief to nearby communities, especially those who have been severely affected by the pandemic.
A staff from BSWM coordinated with Carmencita Nogoy, Senior Agriculturist of AMAD. “Thru Jennielyn Cormes of BSWM. Nag-text po siya sa akin and ask for assistance to help the farmers of Talugtug na maibenta ang kanilang aning mga kalabasa. Pagkatapos nito, kami po ay agad nag-schedule ng visit sa location at ininterbyu si Joe A. Pangililingan na Chairman ng Buted. Immediately after the interview naghanap napo kami ng market na pwedeng bumili ng kanilang produce at nai-linked namin sila sa kanilang unang buyer ang Ateneo de Manila”, Nogoy stated.
Aside from the market linkage, the AMAD covers the trucking of harvested kalabasa.
Buted Chairman Pangililingan gave his full gratitude to DA AMAD, Ateneo and Tanging Yaman Foundation, “Nagpapasalamat po kami sa lahat ng tulong na binigay ng pamahalaan lalung-lalu na sa DARFO3 sa AMAD na tinulungan kaming makahanap ng buyers sa aming mga aning kalabasa, maraming maraming salamat po” he exclaimed.
Moreover, according to Nogoy the Buted will also sell their produce of squash to the KADIWA outlets in Camp Olivas located in MacArthur Highway, City of San Fernando, Pampanga and Phoenix Gasoline Station at Cutcut, Angeles City.
Further, the Chief of AMAD Fernando Lorenzo committed to give a grant of Forward Truck to the Assoc. and processing facility to the neighboring assoc. provided that they will comply with all the requirements needed for allocation.
Writer: Ernesto Payawal
Photos: AMAD Region 3