A cold storage facility that will benefit onion farmers will soon rise in Llanera, Nueva Ecija.
Governor Aurelio Umali, together with Vice Governor Anthony Umali and Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Executive Director Crispulo Bautista, recently led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the facility in Barangay Caridad Sur.
The project is included in the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office III’s High-Value Crop Development Program under the Bayanihan Act 2 with a total budget amounting to P19.9 million.
The project will stand to benefit some 126 members of the Caridad Sur Farmers Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative which donated the 6,000-square meter lot for the construction of the facility.
“We respect farmer’s rights with love and concern.”
“Hindi pwedeng mawalan ng pag-asa ang mga magsasakang Novo Ecijano. Nagtiis sa hirap, mainit man o umuulan. Kaya ipinakita natin na magsasaka man, iginagalang natin yung karapatan ng may pagmamahal at may malasakit (Novo Ecijano farmers should never lose hope. They suffered hardship, whether it was hot or raining. Thus, we showed that even farmers, we respect their rights with love and concern),” Umali said during the live streamed event.
Dominador dela Cruz, chair of the Caridad Sur Farmers Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative, thanked the DA and the provincial government of Nueva Ecija for the project as he assured that they would value and properly maintain the facility.
“We hope that this is not the first and last but rather the start of many other projects.”
“Umaasa kami na hindi ito ang una at huli. Bagkus ito ang simula sa ating pagsama-sama sa maraming pang proyekto darating. Muli, maraming salamat po at mabuhay tayong lahat (We hope that this is not the first and last but rather the start of many other projects that we will work together. Again, thank you very much and long live to all of us),” dela Cruz said.
Due to lack of storage facilities, farmers are often forced to market their produce at a low price.
With the construction of the cold storage facility, farmers will soon be able to properly store their produce and obtain a good price for it.
The soon-to-rise onion cold storage facility will have the capacity to hold 10,000 bags of onions.