MAFAR revives Food Terminal to support agri producers

MARAWI CITY-The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform broke ground for an agricultural food terminal in the Marawi town of Lanao del Sur on Sunday (Dec.12).

Deputy Minister Ammal D. Solaiman said the worth PHP 10 million food terminal with 45 stalls would soon rise in Integrated Terminal, Poblacion, Marawi City in the next six months.

“It is already complete with the (structural) design, and the next step will be the construction,” Solaiman said, adding the food terminal’s budget was sourced in the Bangon Marawi Reconstruction Rehabilitation and Recovery Program, which contains funding to help the agriculture sector affected by the conflict last 2017.

“This facility is given to them to improve the agricultural system for farmers and ensure food security in the Lanao del Sur,” Solaiman added.

Provincial Director Atty. Khalid Ansano said one of the problems in Lanao del Sur is the lack of facilities that can store farmers’ products.

Cost and demand vary because the products sold in the city come from other places, Ansano said.

“I always say that before constructing high rise buildings, prioritize projects focused on agriculture such as the construction of agricultural facilities like this because it is the answer to end the struggle of farmers,” Ansano emphasized.

Food crisis will affect the ongoing rehabilitation of Marawi, and this effort can be one of the solutions to the problem by supplementing what is lacking.

The construction of the facilities will benefit farmers market goers from the Marawi and other municipalities of Lanao del Sur.

“The help will not stop here, as Minister Mohammad S. Yacob Ph. D directed us that you (farmers) are the first on the list of the government,” he said.

Moreover, Ansano announced that the agency has already distributed farm implements to boost agricultural productivity in Lanao del Sur.