Staff reporter
LAOAG CITY—Upland farmers engaged in the planting of ginger, tugiand other root crops got a boost in an open trade fair the Ilocos Norte government organized to promote various products of Ilocos Norte.
Like 52-year old Ronnie Paguyo of Solsona, Ilocos Norte, he said they harvested sacks of ginger, tugi and taro from the integrated social forestry program of the government and these were all sold out during the February 14 ‘Open Capitol’ where thousands of visitors gathered.
Pegged at PHP40 per kilo, the ISF products displayed sold out in front of the Capitol. The sellers priced their products cheaper by 20% compared to the same products sold at the public market.
According to Estrella Sacro of the Environment and Natural Resources Office, she said upland farmers were very happy that they made some money during the open exhibit of agriculture products.
To assist upland farmers to market their products, the Ilocos Norte government through ENRO has linked local farmers to traders outside the province to market their products.
The ISF program of the government aims to alleviate the quality of life of upland communities by letting them cultivate public domains and at the same protect the environment they live.