Trade fair showcases ARB products

Saying that agrarian reform should not be mere subdivision of the land but also multiplication of the land's productivity, Cotabato Rep. Gregorio Ipong opened the Agraryo Trade Fair (ATF) together with Land Reform Secretary Rene Villa and Australian Ambassador Tony Hely at the Megatrade Hall of SM Megamall June 8.

Ipong lauded the ATF, an annual effort which will hopefully boost the "hope, confidence and optimism" among the farmers so they can "exploit trade and other opportunities for all agrarian reform beneficiaries," Ipong said.

The trade fair showcases products of agricultural reform beneficiaries (ARBs) as a result of the convergence and complementation efforts between and among the farmers' sector, national government agencies and civil society on the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), land reform and rural development.

"Our best food products – Kimchi from Benguet, dehydrated pineapple from Camarines Norte and Tuna in Oil from Northern Samar – our awardees in last year's Agraryo Trade Fair – are examples of our ARB products which we can be proud of," Villa said.