LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET – From bamboo sticks to iron pipes, strawberry farmers in La Trinidad can now increase and sustain their production through upgraded greenhouse facilities.

Under the Philippine Rural Development Project’s I-REAP (Enterprise Development) component, supplies and materials in support to strawberry production worth P670,000.00 were delivered to the members of the Federation of La Trinidad Valley Farmers Irrigators Association, Inc. (FLATVAFIA) on November 10, 2017.

The project costs P1,000,000.00 in total, shared by the World Bank (80%), the Government of the Philippines thru the DA (20%), and the La Trinidad Municipal Local Government (20%). Another 20% in cash and/or in kind worth P 624, 837.50 was also shared by the FLATFAVIA as their counterpart.

“Through this intervention, we can protect our strawberries and minimize damages and losses that may occur especially during typhoon season,” said FLATVAFIA Chairperson Jumelyn Buya.

The Project handed over supplies and materials for the establishment of 63 units mini tunnel greenhouse facilities (3mx6m). This includes 693 pcs galvanized iron pipes (315 pcs bended), 504 meters UV plastic, six rolls greenhouse bands, 63 lenses of aluminium lucking profile, seven boxes of teck screw, and 504 pcs plastic clamp. Three units of shredder worth P 150,000.00 will also be delivered as part of the first tranche and one unit hand tractor worth P 180,000.00 for the 2^nd tranche.

Supplies and materials for the establishment of nine units of mini tunnel greenhouse will be first distributed to seven farmer-members. After one production cycle, the total acquisition value shall be retained at the association to purchases supplies and materials for the next members.

“When typhoons hit the valley, strawberry production areas here are often flooded and production drops hence, with these interventions, our members can now sustain and stabilize their production and marketing operation even during typhoons,” added Buya.

This facility will also ensure the availability of strawberries all year round and will support the demand of consumers and processors.

Highlighting the importance of beneficiaries’ acceptance, La Trinidad Mayor Romeo K. Salda challenged FLATFAVIA to work on the operations and monitoring of the project for its sustainability. He further encouraged the farmers to try their best to maintain the supplies delivered and encourage other farmers to patronize the project.

FLATFAVIA is composed of four farmer associations in La Trinidad located in the major strawberry producing barangays of the municipality. As an OTOP (one town, one product) of La Trinidad, the association aims to produce strawberries of good quality with proper care and maintenance procedures.

The Strawberry Production using Tunnel Type Mini Greenhouse is among the 10 approved microenterprise subprojects (formerly Small Livelihood Project) for calamity-stricken areas in Benguet. ### (Elvy Taquio, CARPCO InfoACE Unit)