COTABATO CITY – Women-led agricultural cooperatives from the Bangsamoro region proudly showcased their unique products and delicacies during the 3-day pop-up market held in The Podium Mall in Mandaluyong City on March 24-26.
Dubbed “Womenpreneur Market – A weekend agricultural pop-up by Bangsamoro Women”, the activity was launched by ACTED Philippines, in partnership with Embassy of French to the Philippines and Micronesia, SM Supermalls, Philippine Airlines, and AirSpeed.
The event was also supported by BARMM’s ministries of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) and of Trade, Investments, and Tourism (MTIT).
According to ACTED, the market is part of its ongoing 2-year project – Sustainable and Inclusive Agriculture in the Bangsamoro region – funded by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs which provides technical and material support to women-led cooperatives.
“It seeks to support livelihoods and empower vulnerable families of the Bangsamoro region through durable and responsible agricultural production, increased food security, and gender equality,” said ACTED.
“The women have already received training on sustainable agricultural practices, branding and marketing, and financial management. The market will help promote their products outside of Bangsamoro and create new partnerships,” ACTED further said.
ACTED is a French non-government organization which supports 17 million people around the world with immediate humanitarian relief to those in urgent need, while co-creating longer term opportunities for sustainable growth.
Some of the BARMM products showcased in the event were Inaul garments, ‘tinapayan’ dish, coconut cookies, banana chips, salted fish, coffee powder, calamansi juice, and turmeric powder, among many others.
For Sharmaine Baraguir, MAFAR’s supervising agriculturist for Agri-Business and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), the activity gave the Bangsamoro women a chance to show the real picture that the region is more than just “conflicts and grievances”.
“We are a region with a long history and rich culture, and on its forefront are the women, our vanguards of material culture with their powerful hands that continuously and laboriously keep our traditions alive through our arts, handicrafts, and food,” Baraguir said.
“The Bangsamoro woman is not meek and quiet, she speaks through her craft. She is strong, patient, creative, hopeful, and persevering,” she added.
The agriculturist further stressed that as much as production is important, the marketing of agri-fishery products ensures a secure source of income for the Bangsamoro farmers and fisherfolks and affirms the value of this venture to the people involved.
Meanwhile, one of the participants said: “Our participation in the event is one of many opportunities not only to showcase our own products and our own cooperative but also for the people outside of BARMM to learn more about our own culture and traditions.” (Kasan Usop, Jr./BIO with reports from MAFAR, ACTED Philippines)
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