Three Federations of Irrigators’ Associations (IAs) from the National Irrigation System (NIS) of Bohol Integrated Irrigation System (BIIS) earned direct and regular buyers for their vegetable crops as they sign Marketing Agreements with 6 contracting parties today.
Through the initiation of NIA-R7, under its Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) Program, the MADFIA, BAYCAPAFIA, and FETASIA successfully signed Marketing Agreements with the BJMP Talibon, BJMP Carmen, N&N Restaurant, Kumidor Food Hauz, Kagawasan Women’s Association, and LGU San Miguel.
Through the agreements signed this morning in Malinao Farmer’s Hall, Pilar, Bohol, these 3 Federations of IAs will be their official suppliers of vegetables. As suppliers, they will get regular customers and earn more profit. In return, the buyers get to have access to relatively cheaper quality products, regular supply of vegetables directly produced by the IAs and their members.
The ceremony was graced by BJMP Regional Office 7’s Assistant Regional Director, JSUPT. Nanding N. Bayle, DSWD-7’s EPHAP Regional Project Management Officer Ms. Lovelyn N. Garcia, Bohol Provincial Seed Coordinator Ms. Lorebien Lagapa, Department of Agriculture’s Regional Technical Director Engr. Cirilo N. Namoc, PhilFIDA-7’s Office-in-Charge Mr. Joseph S. Salas, and San Miguel Municipal Administrator, Atty. Glenn D. Damasin.
The Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) is the banner program of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger. This program is one of the government’s ways in helping the farmers earn more, mitigating hunger, and reducing poverty in urban and rural communities by providing direct buyers for farmers’ products with no third party involved.
NIA Region 7, headed by its Acting Regional Manager, Engr. Reyne B. Ugay, strongly supports the EPAHP Program. These initiatives aim to empower the IAs by finding ways to increase their agricultural production and provide them and its members a sustainable livelihood.