Sunday Market and Fair for a cause

Farmers seek support in advancing land to the tillers and food for all

Vegetable farmers from Bulacan and organic rice farmers from Nueva Ecija are selling their products today, October 17, in a unique Sunday Market in Quezon City that advocates agroecology and food security for all.

The one-day-only Agroecology Fair happening at the Bantayog ng Mga Bayani gathered farmers, food producers, and consumers to highlight the need to strengthen local food production. The activity comes a day after the World Food Day celebration of the United Nations.

“For ordinary market-goers, it’s like Hunger Day every day. Food inflation keeps rising every month, plunging more and more Filipinos into unspeakable hunger and malnutrition. Today, we are bridging farmers directly to consumers. Dito, makakabili ng mura at organikong pagkain and mga mamimili.”

“Now more than ever, we must support our farmers and buy their produce. Massive agricultural imports are hurting them to the point of bankruptcy. The triple whammy of the COVID-19 pandemic, importation, and calamities have severely affected their livelihood. Suportahan natin ang mga magsasaka at bilhin ang produkto nila, says Marlon Gueta, spokesperson of Agroecology X, the organizer of the Sunday Market and Fair that is part of the Salu-Salo National Food Systems Summit.

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“Now more than ever, we must support our farmers and buy their produce. Massive agricultural imports are hurting them to the point of bankruptcy. The triple whammy of pandemic, importation, and calamities have severely affected their livelihood. Suportahan natin ang mga magsasaka at bilhin ang produkto nila, says Marlon Gueta, spokesperson of Agroecology X, a network of agroecology advocates and organizer of today’s event, that is also part of the Salu-Salo National Food Systems Summit.

Based on UN estimates, four out of 10 Filipinos, or 42.7% are experiencing severe or moderate food insecurity from the period of 2018 to 2020. This was after the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law.

Gueta further notes that, according to the PSA, 24.9% or one in four of the country’s food is imported. “Why import so much when we can produce food locally in abundance? Filipino farmers are capable of producing and supplying our food needs. They need support services and production support.

Farmers from the Bagsakan Online Farmers Market on Facebook have put up a pop-stall in the fair where they are selling local leafy vegetables, eggplant, string beans, papaya, bamboo shoots, okra and root crops. Ang gusto namin ay lupa para sa mga magsasaka at pagkain para sa lahat. Ayaw namin ng imported na gulay galing sa China, according to Cecilia Rapiz of the Alyansa ng Magbubukid sa Bulacan.

Updates from the Agroecology Fair are posted here: https://www.facebook.com/salusalo2021###