The Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced that its modular cold storage facility in Balanga is now operational to help local farmers in Bataan boost their livelihood opportunities with access to much needed storage for their produce.
In a statement, agriculture secretary Francisco ‘Kiko’ Tiu Laurel Jr. disclosed that the cold storage depot will help members of the Cupang West Multipurpose Cooperative in Balanga and other producers to start reducing their post-harvest losses and improve the handling of their farm products.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) turned over the facility last September 24 with an operation and maintenance training conducted for cooperative members tasked to manage it.
Tiu Laurel cited that the project was made possible through the Agricultural and Fisheries Logistics Office of the DA Regional Field Office 3 (DA-RFO3) as part of support for farmers and farmers’ organizations in Bataan.
“The facility is intended to extend the shelf life of high-value crops and other agricultural commodities by slowing spoilage after harvest. For farmers, the availability of cold storage addresses a persistent constraint in the post-harvest chain where lack of storage often forces immediate sale at lower prices to avoid wastage,” the agri chief pointed out.
Accordingly, the modular cold storage is expected to help farmers reduce post-harvest losses and improve the storage and marketing of agricultural produce.
“By allowing the cooperative to hold produce until market conditions improve, the facility help provides greater flexibility in marketing. This holding capacity is seen as a mechanism for farmers to time their sales, potentially securing better prices and generating higher income,” Tiu Laurel explained.
He also underscored that the accompanying training would be if great help to farmers as it focused on equipping cooperative representatives with skills for safe, proper and efficient operation, care and upkeep of the facility–a component aimed at ensuring sustainability and long-term use.
In ending, the agriculture secretary noted that the project aligns with broader government efforts to strengthen the agriculture sector in Central Luzon by reducing losses, raising farm incomes, and supporting food security through improved logistics.
“It complements the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s thrust to upgrade agricultural support systems, particularly logistics and post-harvest facilities that enable farmers to store, manage, and market produce more effectively,” he concluded.
