Sorsogon farmers needs "bagsakan center" for their agricultural products

SORSOGON CITY, Feb. 9 (PIA) -- Hundreds of farmers here requested Department of Agriculture Sec. Proceso J. Alcala  during his visit here last month to have a food terminal or a “bagsakan center “ here in the province where products from different municipalities can be brought for trading.

Farmers averred that Sorsogon is one of the agriculture-producing provinces in the Bicol region and farm produce have been abundant for the past seven years especially with the support given by the local and national governments in keeping with the implementation of the development plan making the countryside the foundation of agricultural development.

They said that having a food terminal center here where farmers can bring their products will lessen time and expense in selling their products by retail since these can be sold in the bagsakan center wholesale and can command a competitive price in the local markets.

The province can now also provide volume of certain crops from root crops, bananas, and other farm products and to include dried fish and other marine produce.

The farmers said that their farm produce are sold to traders here who just come to buy directly from them and no tariff or taxes are paid to the local government.

They also said that if these products are brought to the food terminal, businessmen who would avail of certain products in volume  to be marketed in Manila or in some places within the country can establish a ready supply of the product like pili which is the high value crop of the province.

The farmers also said that the  bagsakan center will also create another avenue for trading as people who will buy in volume can just go to this center for their supply.

Meanwhile Sec. Alcala has been very supportive of this recommendation by the farmers here since his visit also assured them of funding, equipment assistance, and other agricultural support to boost the agricultural productivity of the province knowing its potential and opportunity in creating more livelihood and propelling countryside development.

"As part of the national policy to enhance agricultural productivity, the DA's thrust is always to provide the needed urgent support to farmers and here in Sorsogon, rest assured that recommendations/ proposal such as this will be treated with outmust exigency," he said.(MAL/IAG, PIA Sorsogon)