DA –CAR leads HVC Week,Filipino Food Month celebration

DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Cameron Odsey (2nd from left) leads other officials and guests in opening the Green Grocery trade fair at the BPI Compound on April 12 in celebration of High Value Crops Week and Filipino Food Month.. (DA - CAR photo)

  BAGUIO CITY, April 15 (PIA) - - The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office – Cordillera (DA – CAR) leads  the observance of High Value Crops(HVC) Week with the launching of the Green Grocery at the Bureau of Plant Industry compound here on April 12, and unveiling of various agri – based contests and activities.

The first celebration of its kind, the HVC Week is in line with the 25th anniversary of Republic Act 7900 or the High Value Crops and Development Act of 1995 and the observance of April as Filipino Food Month by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 469.

DA – CAR OIC Regional Executive Director Cameron Odsey outlined that the celebration is very relevant for the Cordillera as high value crops particularly the highland vegetables comprise a major industry in the region.

Odsey shared that for Cordillera highland vegetables alone, production averages around 1,000 metric tons a day and estimated to be around P17 – P18 billion annual industry.

Among CAR’s high value crops  are cabbage, carrots, celery, cucumber, chayote, lettuce, potato, sweet peas, beans, cauliflower  and bell pepper.

He called on the DA – CAR stakeholders to continue to work in protecting the HVC industry and in making it more resilient and sustainable source of income for Cordillera farmers.

The Green Grocery at BPI is a week-long trade fair featuring organic products and other agricultural produce from Good Agricultural Products -certified farms.

As part of the observance of HVC Week and the Filipino Food Month, DA – CAR also spearheaded a HVC Creative Cooking competition and vegetable food products “Eat All You Can Activity” at BPI compound on Tuesday.

Also in line is an HVC Technological Contest which include seed/pest identification, fruit/veggie carving, flower arrangement and a quiz bee.

In partnership with the local government unit of La Trinidad, DA – CAR is also set to launch the “Adopt a Town” project in barangay Ambiong and turnover of Gulayan sa Paaralan in identified beneficiaries in the municipality on Friday. 

DA CAR through its Agri-Business and Marketing Division is also leading 12 farmer cooperatives and associations in selling their agri – products at Session Road, Baguio City where trade fairs are open to the public every Sunday for the whole month of April. (JDP/CCD-PIA CAR)

Highland vegetable farmers cooperatives  sell  their products  at Session Road  every Sunday of April as part of the celebration of Filipino Food Month being  spreaheaded by DA CAR..(Photo by Redjie Cawis/PIA CAR)

 

 

 

Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)