More than Php44M tomato cold storage to rise in Ilocos Norte
Date Published: August 14, 2023
A tomato cold storage facility worth Php 44.6M will soon rise in the municipality of Sarrat, Ilocos Norte which will be managed by the San Joaquin MPC.
Through the I-REAP component of the Philippine Rural Development Project, the enterprise was proposed to address the lack of storage facility during harvest season in the months of February to April.
During this peak season, farmers are forced to sell their produce to traders at low farmgate prices.
Moreover, with the abolition of the Northern Foods Corporation in 2021, there was a significant decline in tomato production in the province as NFC is where most farmers used to sell their produce.
In 2021, the province had a tomato production of 26, 910 metric tons and an area of 1,308 hectares. But in 2022, it has decreased to 24,008 MT and 1,160 has.
More than 7,000 farmers in Ilocos Norte who are engaged in tomato production are therefore expected to benefit from this project.
In a groundbreaking ceremony held on July 19, Wednesday, Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc shared his hope for the facility to succeed and cater to the needs of the tomato farmers.
“Let us hold each other accountable. Let us closely monitor and professionally manage this and ultimately have its benefits redound to our farmers and to our agricultural sector,” said Manotoc.
Ilocos Norte remains as the top tomato producing province in Ilocos Region, contributing 38.22% of the total production. ### (Joan Dapidap, RPCO1 InfoACE)
