Benguet: The provincial government of Benguet said local farmers’ shift to good agricultural practices has contributed to their sector’s good performance in 2024 that allowed the province to record a 5-percent growth rate. “Benguet’s economy has remained dependent on agriculture as its main economic driver,” Alberto Cuilan Jr., officer-in-charge of the provincial planning and development department, said in an interview on Wednesday.
According to Philippines News Agency, agricultural production support expanded from demonstration farms and training facilities to Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) certification of over 400 farms. The Department of Agriculture (DA) said that the shift to GAP has cut production costs due to the proper use of fertilizers and pesticides, as well as the utilization of appropriate ‘fruit boosting’ products. The GAP, which requires certification, is a competitive advantage in the market with institutional buyers allowing farmers to demand a higher value for their products, aside from ensuring that their harvests are bought.
The system employed by many farmers has also brought them together to consolidate their produce to meet buyers’ demand in terms of quantity, ensuring that products have their market. The GAP certification is encouraged among farmers for savings in production cost and for healthier and ‘clean’ produce without excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides.
The Philippine Statistics Authority in the Cordillera Administrative Region (PSA-CAR), in its product account dissemination forum, said that agriculture, forestry, and fishing (AFF) posted a 15.5 percent contribution to the region’s gross domestic product. The PSA also noted that AFF posted the biggest growth among the major industries in the province in 2024 with 8.1 percent from the 2023 mark.
Records also show that Benguet’s AFF constitutes 48 percent of the region’s agriculture, forestry, and fishery sector followed by Kalinga, 12.65 percent; Ifugao, 11.12 percent; Abra, 9.51 percent; Apayao, 7.92 percent; Mountain Province, 7.53 percent; and Baguio City, 3.26 percent. Cuilan also stated that improved road access linkages are vital in the increase of production and the delivery of agricultural products in the market. Farm access roads were constructed across the 13 municipalities, now totaling 1,179 kilometers. Some are linked to provincial roads that also serve as access to several farming areas around the province.