Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala (3rd from left) appreciates quality vegetables on display at the recent 9th National Vegetable Congress in Dumaguete City, where he urged 2,000 farmers, entrepreneurs and local officials to consolidate their efforts to produce quality, safe and competitive vegetables, and remain vigilant to prevent the entry of smuggled commodities, particularly onions and garlic. He enjoined farmers to engage in crop rotation to plant and harvest on a regular basis, and enable them to stabilize supply and fetch higher prices for their produce. He said the DA will partner with farmers’ groups and local governments to establish more trading centers nationwide, where farmers could bring and sell their produce directly to institutional buyers and thus earn more income — similar to the Sentrong Pamilihang ng Produktong Agrikultural in Quezon, which he established when he was still a Representive. Also shown in photo are Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo (left), Florida Ybanez (right), President of Cebu-Negros Oriental Integrated Upland Vegetable Development Council, and vegetable seed industry entrepreneurs. (Photo by Jose Lucas, DA Information Service)

Source: Alcala Urges Farmers to Produce Quality, Safe, Competitive Vegetables