The University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), in collaboration with CleverHeat Clean Technology Solutions, Inc. and Benguet State University, conducted the “Project launching of cost-effective cold storage facility and capacity building of farmers and stakeholders” last 27 February 2018 at the Benguet Agri-Pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC), La Trinidad, Benguet. Eighty-three (83) vegetable farmers and guests attended the launching.

BAPTC Managing Director Juancho Cruz, Sr. led the opening prayer and Dr. Silvestre Aben, BSU Vice President for Business Affairs, represented President Dr. Feliciano G. Calora, Jr., in welcoming the farmers, guests and stakeholders.

Dr. Lawrence L. Ilag, Deputy Chief of Party of USAID-STRIDE delivered a keynote address and emphasized that the USAID-STRIDE program stimulates inclusive economic growth by boosting science and technology research.

Mr. King Karl Seroje from Cleverheat Clean Technology Solutions, Inc., Engr. Joseph A. Veloria of Dacworks United Inc., and Mr. Jose Lagdameo of GlobalPower Corporation conducted seminar on the design, operations and benefits of cold storage facility. It was emphasized that the facility can be utilized to store high value crops and agricultural produce to decrease their post-harvest losses and increase productivity of farmers.

Dr. Patricia Ann J. Sanchez, Associate Professor and Project leader from School of Environmental Science and Management (SESAM)-UPLB, told the farmers and stakeholders that the study aimed to develop a cost-effective cold storage facility by deploying a refrigeration system that uses heat to directly operate the system, where it will be powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) with low electricity consumption.

Dr. Ilag and Ms. Jeanira G. Okubo led the ribbon cutting and opening of cold storage facility. Dr. Sanchez gladly announced that the facility is free to use until March 31, 2018.

The farmers in Benguet as well as the municipality have increasing problems on crop waste disposal. To address the problem, the fabricated biodigesters will be used for better waste management of agricultural wastes and the methane gas produced from biodigesters will be used as an alternative source of fuel at the small farm or household level.

 Lettuce stored in the USAID-STRIDE RTI cold storage facility.

Mr. Celso F. Espaldon of the USAID-STRIDE project of SESAM-UPLB conducted seminar on the usage, operations and benefits of biodigesters. Consequently, biodigesters were distributed to selected farmer group organizations for their usage.

Dr. Maria Victoria Espladon, Professor, SESAM-UPLB discussed the results of the survey conducted by the team with reference to farmers’ requirements for their vegetable produce. Mr. Frederick Edeco, BAPTC Contract Trading Department Managing Director and representative of BAPTC COO Dr. Violeta B. Salda, emphasized the importance of cold storage facility for the farmers and encourage them to use the facility since they are the ones who will benefit from using it. Engr. Leonard Dumalhin of BSU, representative of Dr. Rodolfo P. Estigoy, mentioned stories of the farmers relevant to the usage of new technologies.

Open forum was conducted relevant to the usage and operations of cold storage facility and biodigesters. Dr. Sanchez thanked everyone especially the farmers who attended the launching. She hoped that the farmers will use the cold storage facility and biodigesters efficiently.

With funding support from USAID-STRIDE and RTI International, the launching and capacity building were productive means in improving the farm-to-market linkages in Benguet that could lead to better product quality, higher market price, and reduction in wastage due to product spoilage. (Maria Lorena R. Cruz)