Through technical and marketing assistance, vegetable farmers here have reported increasing yield and rising income, thanks to the Agriboost project of the local government.

One such farmer is Susan Aparri, a resident of Barangay Sumilihon, who managed to increase her income from vegetable farming through the project.

“My vegetable farm is devoted to cucumber, string beans, and okra production as recommended by the Agrihub facility of the Agriboost project. The facility buys all my produce as well as the other farm products of farmers in Butuan City,” Aparri was quoted as saying in a statement released by the local government on Wednesday.

In the past, Aparri said she could only earn around PHP24,000 monthly from the more than a quarter area devoted to vegetable farming before.

Through the Agriboost program, Aparri said she could now earn from PHP12,000 to PHP13,000 per week, or around PHP50,000 per month from her produce.

Local farmers are also assured of high and fair prices with the Agrihub to dispose of their farm products, she added.

Moreover, Aparri said the program also provides support to production through technical training programs and the provision of quality seeds, fertilizers, materials and farming equipment.

“My increased income helped me in providing support to my two students, especially their needs in schools,” she said.

The Agriboost project was a winner in the 2021-2022 Global Mayors Challenge of the Bloomberg Philanthropies, showcasing the competitiveness of local farmers.

The program was devised to boost the competitiveness of farmers through technical and resource support, demand-driven production, reliable farm gate pricing, and the strengthening of an agricultural hub in the city aimed to catalyze market forces. (PNA)