Agri-Venta earns big on its second year

Special guests during the opening day of Agri-Venta 2 from left to right: 
Eric Harina of ZCCCIFI; Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar; DA9 
Assistant Regional Director Ferdinand Gamorot; and DA9 Farmer 
Director Leonardo Caparida.

By JONG CADION

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        PAGADIAN CITY May 29, 2019) - From over Php500,000 of total sales on its debut last year, the second year of Agri-Venta reached new heights as it garnered an overwhelming P866,501 of total sales at the culmination of its three-day exhibit last May 26 at KCC Mall, Zamboanga City, DA IX Assistant Regional Director Maria Melba Wee disclosed.

Wee said that the Agri-Venta was initiated by the Department of Agriculture IX (DA IX) under its Agribusiness Support for Promotion and Investment in Regional Expo (ASPIRE) program in partnership with Department of Trade and Industry IX (DTI IX) and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Agri-Venta Year 2 endeavors to provide more opportunities for agri-based micro, small and medium enterprises through promoting their products to a wider market and preparing them for possible expansion and investments.

        At least 43 exhibitors coming from the different parts of the region convened to showcase their authentic quality products ranging from fresh commodities such as the sweet mangoes of Zamboanga del Norte Mango Producers’ Association and assorted vegetables of La Paz Vegetable Growers, to processed foods such as Tita Alma’s chili garlic dip and Jing’s homemade bagoong gata, plants and farming supplements of Oscar Garden and Sunny Land among others, and services from government agencies, financial institutions and academes, Wee added.

        Two of these exhibitors were awarded as top sellers for food and non-food categories with each receiving recognition and a cash prize.

The Cassava Growers and Processors Association from Dapitan, Zamboanga del Norte ended up as the top seller of food products while the Sibugay Vermi Growers Association from Titay, Zamboanga Sibugay was declared as the top seller for non-food category.

        “What we have for the 3-day exhibition of the different products coming from Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga City, and for the first time, Basilan, is a manifestation that indeed, we have a very good produce, a state-of-the-art produce we can say, and with that, we could be at par with the rest of the world,” said DA IX Assistant Regional Director Maria Melba Wee.

        The latter also introduced to the public a lesser-known yet potential product, the Sibuying or native spring onion pickles of the Mauswagon Farmers’ Association in La Libertad, Zamboanga del Norte, one of the enterprises under the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Project of DA IX. ARD Wee affirmed that aside from its appetizing purpose, the Sibuying is also an aphrodisiac food and has therapeutic effects for certain illnesses such as cough.

        Side events were also hosted during the 3-day trade fair such as seminars on financial literacy, organic agriculture awareness, investment opportunities on coconut, entrepreneurial mind setting, and a live demonstration on vegetable and fruit juice preparation wherein the exhibitors and mallgoers were equipped with new knowledge and skills that they can apply in their respective livelihoods and future investments.

Some of the exhibitors during the second year of Agri-Venta.

One of the side events of Agri-Venta 2, a live demonstration on 
indigenous fruit and vegetable juice and pickles preparation.

A seminar workshop on financial literacy dubbed as Cash Flow 101 
& Islamic Financing was conducted among the exhibitors and 
representatives from other institutions.

        Also present during the culmination were DA IX Assistant Regional Director for Operations Ferdinand Gamorot and Mr. Ross Alfred Estrada of Zamboanga City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation Incorporated (ZCCCIFI). While distinguished guests Zamboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar, ZCCCIFI Vice President Eric Harina and DA IX Farmer Director Leonardo Caparida graced the trade exhibit on its opening day, May 24th. (By JONG CADION with press release and photos from D.Reyes/DA9)