DEPARTMENT of Agriculture Undersecretary for High Value Crops Development Program Cherry Marie Natividad-Caballero visited Region 2 (Cagayan Valley) particularly the province of Nueva Vizcaya on August 8, 2024.
Caballero personally inspected and visited the ongoing construction of onion cold storage funded under the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) located at Barangay Santa Maria, Dupax del Sur town.
Natividad-Caballero was assisted by town officials headed by Municipal Mayor Neil Magaway and members of farmers cooperatives and associations with Regional Executive Director Rose Mary Aquino.
Joining them were DA Region 2 Technical Director for Operations and Extension Dr. Roberto Busania, HVCDP coordinator Carol Albay, DA Regulatory Division Chief Remedios Dela Rosa, Agribusiness, Marketing Assistance Division chief Ma. Rosario Pacaranggan and DA Nueva Vizcaya Experiment Station manager Arsenio Apostol Jr.
Natividad-Caballero congratulated the town of Dupax del Sur for their initiatives to help onion farmers and committed to connecting the onion farmers to the National Capital Region and other buyers.
She also visited the Nueva Vizcaya FAFFOGGA Cold Storage Facility at Barangay Nagcuartelan in Aritao town, the Processing Facility of Pack Gulay at Barangay Darapidap in Aritao and the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal (NVAT) in Bambang town.
She also led a consultation meeting with the members of the cooperative and NVAT Board of Directors.
The Undersecretary appreciated the cooperatives contributions and their dedication to helping farmers to sell their agricultural products.
“Malaking tulong ang NVAT sa mga magsasaka maliit man yan o malaki dahil isa itong mekanismo upang makabenta ang mga magsasaka sa tamang presyo. Kailangan tayong magsamasama at tulong-tulong para sa ganoon ay makamit natin ang ating sapat na pagkain sa ating bansa,” Natividad-Caballero said. JOVYJANE GANAT