LA TRINIDAD,Benguet – The provincial government, in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), has allocated
P3.5 million for the development of a vegetable processing facility at the Benguet Cold Chain in Wangal, Benguet.
The project aims to upgrade the capability of existing distribution centers in the delivery of fresh and semi-processed agricultural products in the supply chain, while focusing on packaging technology and logistics.
Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas said the facility will help add value to the vegetables being produced by farmers.
It will also serve as a learning area for interested farmers who are willing to learn other technologies to produce high-value products from harvests.
He said “the packaging facility will help the farmers with the semi-process, and to easily market the fresh vegetable, ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat.
The benefits of this project are that producers could now directly sell at the high-end stores like hotels, groceries, and markets.”
Diclas added that another P2.7 million-improvement project is currently ongoing at the "Bagsakan Area" of the province’s Cold Chain.
Upon the completion of the project that is expected to start this year, DOST will provide the necessary equipment and facilities to be installed and used for the operation of the vegetable processing facility.