The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) Regional Project Coordination Office (RPCO) CALABARZON I-PLAN Component gathered farmers and representatives from local government units, government agencies, and the private sector to discuss the state of the lowland vegetable industry and production and marketing opportunities in CALABARZON. This is to encourage them to engage and invest further in the lowland vegetable industry towards its continuous improvement and growth.

The RPCO CALABARZON  I-PLAN presented to the participants the lowland vegetable value chain map, geographic flow map, relative financial position of value chain players, and opportunities in CALABARZON that may put lowland vegetable farmers/investors at an advantage compared to other regions. Some of these opportunities are the availability of niche markets, ports in Batangas and Quezon, power plants, processing facilities, food businesses, industrial parks, roads, feed mills, food terminals, international training centers, and other agricultural institutions.

“Despite the catastrophes that hit CALABARZON in 2020, there is still a great potential for growth in the lowland vegetable industry in the region since areas cultivated and the volume of production of these crops are increasing. Increased engagement of farmers and the private sector in this industry will definitely enable, support, and sustain these developments,” Gamelzar Dean, PRDP 4A I-PLAN Planning Specialist, shared.

Representatives from the DA RFO IV-A High-Value Crops Development Program, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, LANDBANK of the Philippines, Allied Botanical Corporation, Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards, Jollibee Group Foundation, and Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation also presented their activities, programs, interventions, and assistance that farmers may avail if they opt to engage in lowland vegetable production and marketing. Farmers showed interest in engaging with them, particularly in trading and marketing their products.

“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa PRDP dahil marami po kaming nakilalang mga institusyon na maaaring makatulong sa amin sa iba’t-ibang aspeto ng aming kabuhayan, mapa-produksyon, marketing, insurance, at iba pa. Ngayon pong alam na naming may maaari kaming makatuwang, nabigyan po kaming mga magsasaka ng panibagong inspirasyon at sigla hindi lamang po sa pagtatanim, pero pati na rin po sa pag-mamarket ng aming produkto,” Gabriel Arubio, a farmer from General Emilio Aguinaldo, Cavite, shared.