NAGA CITY, Camarines Sur (PIA) - - The largest business group in Bicol has renewed its collaboration with the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) to help farmers and fisherfolk scale up their operations.

Speaking at the inauguration of the Camarines Sur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CSCCI) building, CSCCI president Kristian Carl Malazarte announced that the chamber is committed to assisting fisherfolks and farmers in consolidating their produce, meeting market demands, and providing necessary training.

Every year we hold the agri-summit and this year, BFAR's role will be bigger because we have a big project with fisherfolks," Malazarte said.

The CSCCI has been collaborating with the Department of Agriculture (DA) and the provincial government of Camarines Sur to convene the annual agriculture summit for the past seven years.

The event enabled farmers and fisherfolks to promote locally produced agricultural products and sell these directly to the consumers without going through middlemen.

Farmers who encountered problems in their farms could seek advice from agriculture experts during the summit.

For the farmers and fisherfolk, the summit symbolizes the cooperation of the chamber and the government, according to DA Bicol.

CDA Assistant Secretary Vergel Hilario lauded the CSCCI “for being willing to help not only small businesses but also the poorest of the poor.”

Hilario, here on the invitation of the CSCCI, stated that the chamber’s help is crucial in government efforts “to improve cooperatives because not all government interventions are successful.”

Malazarte and Hilario were one in saying that cooperatives need proper guidance and direction to thrive in their respective trades.

Hilario said the initiatives of the CSCCI would significantly contribute to the post-COVID pandemic recovery program of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“This collaboration will positively impact the entire community, leading to growth and development,” he said.

Raising productivity in the fishery sector is critical for creating jobs and stimulating economies, especially in rural areas.

"The fishermen will have job opportunities, and there will be a market for processed fish, which will benefit many. This initiative will create more employment opportunities, and many people will benefit from it," he concluded.  (PIA 5)