Farmers trained to improve yields, quality under Davao City peace program

DAVAO CITY — Farmers participating in the city’s counter-insurgency “Peace Economy” will undergo training to improve their harvest and quality of produce.

“We have concerns on quality and quantity in the produce of our farmers. That is why we intend to capacitate them,” Roger S. Baay, focal person of the Peace 911 team, said in a statement Friday.

Mr. Baay said the team will be tapping various agricultural groups to help provide the training.

The Peace Economy, launched by Peace 911 in November last year with communities in the remote Paquibato District as the pilot area, aims to stimulate economic activity alongside improvements in infrastructure and the delivery of social services to address the grievances of the insurgency.

One of the initial projects is linking vegetable growers with Helen’s Farms, Inc., a unit of retailer and shopping mall operator New City Commercial Center (NCCC).

Under the partnership, Helen’s Farms will directly purchas Paquibato produce, allowing farmers to steer clear of middlemen who usually offer lower prices.

Mr. Baay said the program is encouraging neighboring farmers to consolidate their harvest to meet the requirements of Helen’s Farms.

“This is to address our concerns on quantity,” Mr. Baay said.

The City Agriculturist Office has also given the Paquibato farmers permits to use the Davao Food Terminal Complex in Toril as their transaction site with Helen’s Farms.

“There is also a cold storage facility that they can use free of charge,” he said.

Mr. Baay said another plan under the Peace Economy is linking beneficiary farmers with the city’s restaurants. — Maya M. Padillo