The value chain analysis (VCA) process for highland vegetables in Mountain Province is now complete following the validation activity through a stakeholders’ consultation conducted in Bontoc on June 7, 2018.

“This activity is initiated by the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP),” said Lilly Rose Kollin, head of the Provincial Project Management and Implementing Unit (PPMIU) in Mountain Province. “This is the fourth VCA forum conducted for Mountain Province.  First, we had coffee, followed by white potato, then heirloom rice, and now highland vegetables,” she added.

The PRDP stresses that the value chain approach is one of the scientific tools used in the process of implementing subprojects funded under it.

Accordingly, the value chain approach refers to the full range of activities required to bring a product through various stages of production, including physical transformation, inputs of various producer services, and response to consumer demand.

It is said to determine the value created in a product or service which results from a determined set of value-adding processes and the participation of actors of the sector when carefully implemented.

“The commodity value chain validation through stakeholders’ consultation is a significant element of the VCA process,” said Arnel Gagujas, Planning Specialist of the PRDP Regional Project Coordinating Office – CAR.

He added that it is a venue where representatives from all concerned government agencies together with the private sector involved in the commodity flow to agree or disagree and to add more of the functions and other elements identified in the value chain map.

“This ensures the reliability, consistency, veracity and wellness of data and information in the value chain map,” he added.

During said activity, Dr. Fernando R. Gonzalez, hired consultant to put together the VCA, presented the draft to the participants.  The participants, consisting of selected producers, traders, support service providers, input dealers and other relevant stakeholders, including the PPMIU staff, reviewed all the data presented and gave their comments and acceptance during the open forum proper.

Kollin stressed that this VCA approach is a good practice of the PRDP which shall be mainstreamed in local government units.   As such, LGUs will soon be making their agricultural project proposals using this approach in the near future.

“Let us get used to this kind of process, and let us be active in giving our comments and suggestions to make the VCA for highland vegetables in Mountain Province closer to perfection because, after all, we, the stakeholders are the ones to benefit from it,” she said. ### (MABEL ZABALA, RPCO CAR InfoACE)