THE City Government of Silay targets to open its P1.7-million organic trading post located in Barangay Mambulac this month.
City Agriculturist Jason Benedicto said the construction of the facility is already completed, and they are currently in the process of complying with the last requirement.
Before it can operate, the organic trading post is still subject to the final inspection of the Commission on Audit (COA), he said.
“We are now waiting for the response of COA to our letter informing them that the structure was already completed and that they can now conduct the final inspection,” Benedicto said.
If not this month, the inauguration of the organic trading post will be held during the farmers and fisherfolk congress in December to be attended by about 2,000 participants.
The annual activity will highlight the city government’s accomplishments in terms of implementing agriculture programs as well as issues and concerns of local farmers and fisherfolk.
The P1.7-million construction of the organic trading post is a special project of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Benedicto said the facility, which will operate four times a week, will initially benefit some 60 organic farmers in Barangays Patag and Guimbalaon by providing them a sure market for their products.
Prior to the facility’s operation, the City Government has already distributed planting materials and fertilizers to recipient-farmers as their seed capital.
Also, the City Agriculture Office is forming a committee that will work on linking the trading post to different restaurants and other establishments in Bacolod City and other areas in the province that need organic products.
“Another beauty of this program is that, the farmers will be immediately paid for their products brought to the trading post using the city’s working capital of P200,000,” Benedicto said.
Meaning, upon paying them, it is now the up to the city government how to sell and market the products, he said, stressing that “the trading post is really positioned to further boost the organic industry of Silay.”
Meanwhile, Silay City Agriculture Office records showed that of about 15,000 hectares of agricultural area in the city, 244 hectares are devoted to organic farming.
The organic products are mainly comprised of high-value commercial crops, particularly vegetables, and those organic by default commodities such as banana, coffee, coconut, and cacao.
