A Japanese agricultural council is aiming to grant farmers in Benguet a solar-powered cold storage facility that will preserve local produce and eventually eliminatie post-harvest losses.

But Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar said Tuesday, Sept. 7, that nothing is final yet as they will first seek the approval of the President. He, however, manifested support in the proposed project.

The Japan Agricultural Exchange Council (JAEC) is proposing to construct the solar-powered cold storage in Buguias town. It is also planning to acquire refrigerated cooling trucks to improve post-harvest handling, storage, and delivery of local farmers’ produce. The proposed project is worth P82 million and would be funded by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Currently, it is under the review of the National Economic and Development Authority. It will also go through the Department of Finance and the Department of Foreign Affairs, to be approved by the Office of the President.

Once approved, a memorandum of agreement will be drafted and signed between the DA and JAEC.

Dar hopes that the proposal will be approved before the end of the current administration. He also called for the creation of a steering committee to help speed up the approval process.

The DA chief also instructed JAEC representatives to review its procurement process and to prepare the project design for immediate implementation once the project is approved.

The proposal was presented during Dar's meeting with JAEC Senior Local Coordinator Toshiharo Sato on Sept. 6, where they also discussed the proposed initiative to improve production of farmers through the Safe Vegetable from Rich Soil (SAVERS) technology, which enriches the soil by using organic matter such as “mokusaku” or wood vinegar.