Agro trade fair in Naga City aims to help local farmers

CEBU, Philippines - Local farmers of Barangay Lutac, in the City of Naga participated in an agro trade fair showcasing products freshly picked from their farms.

“Ang purpose ani para matabangan pud nato sila nga ma-sustain ilang livelihood hilabi na nga mao na ilang source of food and income,” said Lutac Barangay Chairman Eleazar Gesman.

Several products ranging from buko, eggplants, pomelos, cacaos, guavas, cucumbers and many others were displayed in various stalls at the fair in Lutac’s activity grounds.

The prices of the products are also way beyond those in common marketplaces, like a kilo of papaya is only sold at P20 while a standard size pomelo can be bought for P10.

Gesman said the Barangay Lutac Self Sufficiency Sustainable Economic Development (Blessed) farmers did not spend for transportation and hauling, hence the low price of the products. The products are also “organic”’ as these were naturally farmed.

The event, which is on its second year, was also to prepare the farmers to participate in the city’s Charter Day agri-fair event, wherein Blessed is a consistent first prize winner.

“Makit-an pud nimo unsa ka creative atong mga farmers kay makahimo sila og display out of simple materials,” Gesman said.

Yesterday’s booths were decorated with hanging guavas, calamansi and other small fruits, while the other products are visibly displayed at the center inviting the passersby to stop and buy.

Gesman said the progress of Lutac’s farmers would mean a lot to the barangay considering that 60 percent of its families thrive in the barangay’s rich soil. The barangay has a population of 4,310.

The barangay’s P2.7-milllion annual budget though is not enough to assist the farmers with their needs and Gesman said he always goes to Mayor Valdemar Chiong and the Department of Agriculture for help.

The DA recently provided eight carabaos to the farmers, which were then distributed to the different sitios. The city government is also helping in the skills trainings of farmers and on other financial aspects, he said. City Councilor Rudy Navarro came to support the whole-day affair. — Liv G. Campo/ATO (FREEMAN)