Information and news about the USAID Growth with Equity in Mindanao III (GEM 3) Project

Members of the Central Mindanao Vegetable Industry Development Council (CEMVIDEC) harvest sweet pepper in Brgy. Malaya, in Banga, South Cotabato. USAID’s Growth with Equity in Mindanao (GEM) Program, under its Targeted Commodity Expansion Project (TCEP), trained the growers on best farming practices and provided them with food grade plastic crates that help maintain the freshness and quality of produce during transport. With GEM marketing assistance, CEMVIDEC members now ship out at least two metric tons of assorted vegetables to wholesalers in Metro Manila. The GEM Program works in partnership with vegetable growers associations and the Department of Agriculture, to improve the competitiveness of the region’s vegetable producers by providing training on Good Agriculture Practices, proper post-harvest handling techniques, and effective marketing systems. 

Published in in Sun Star Davao, February 2, 2011