At least nine Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-assisted organizations in Albay were given opportunities to showcase their products during a four-day trade fair here recently.

In an interview on Wednesday, Niriza Barquilla, DAR-Albay information officer, said farmers’ groups were able to market their products directly to the buyers.

“Some of the products that were displayed during the trade fair were pili nut candies, peanut butter, banana chips, homemade cookies, coco jam, muscovado sugar, longganisa, assorted fruits and vegetables, and many more. It generated a total sales of PHP350,000 during the Saod AlbayAni Trade Fair 2024,” she said.

The Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organizations (ARBOs) that participated were the Tiwi Food Processors Association, Inc. (TFPASSI), Salvacion Farm Workers and Weavers Association (SFWWA), Association of Women and Men of Gabawan (AWMG), Sa Agrarian Reform Iriba Gabos sa Kauswagan (SARIGAN) MPC, Malobago LinksFarm Farmers Association, Inc., Gamot Luya Dalogo Farmers Association (GALUDA), Samahan ng mga Agraryong Magsasaka sa Pag-unlad, Inc. (SAMPI), Masarawag Composite Farmers Association (MCFA), and QUIPIA Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative.

In her statement, DAR Provincial Agrarian Reform Program Officer engineer, Maria Eugenia M. Alteza, said the activity has helped drive the economic growth of ARBOs in the province.

“We promise to leverage sustainability and ensure that Albayano products reach their full potential and are recognized across the global markets,” she said.

Jobel Parado-Abo, a member of SAMPI, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to showcase their farm’s products and connect with more buyers.

“Nakaka-inspire po na makita ang suporta para sa aming mga magsasaka. Dahil po dito, nabigyan kami ng motibasyon para mas pagbutihin pa ang pagsasaka (It’s inspiring to see the support for our farmers. Because of this, we were given motivation to improve farming even more),” she said. (PNA)