DAVAO CITY – The php74.8 million Davao Food Terminal Complex (DFTC) that will directly link farmers to its buyers and where consumers could have access to fresh and affordable fruits and vegetables is now operational.
Funded by the Department of Agriculture 11 (DA-11) in collaboration with the city government here, the DFTC with five hectares of land area is big enough to accommodate the bulk of agricultural produce in the city as well as those from neighboring regions.
It has a spacious cold storage facility that has eight refrigerated containers.
Located in Barangay Daliao in Toril District, the food terminal will be open 24/7.
Andres Alemania, DA-11 Regional Technical Director for Research and Regulations assured that the agency will continue its commitment to serve the agri-fishery communities through intensified support in marketing, processing, logistics, and technology transfer.
“May this project strengthen the collaboration of various agri stakeholders and industry key players to realize our three-fold mission of food availability, affordability, and accessibility,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mayor Sebastian Duterte said that the purpose of this trading center is to address food security in the city.
“We need to regulate and monitor the food prices since all fruits and vegetables will be unloaded at the same facility, which will in turn help guarantee the best market conditions for farmers,” he added.
photo courtesy of City Government of Davao
During its opening on October 18, vegetable producers and traders from far-flung districts of the city and neighboring municipalities warmly welcomed and expressed support for the opening of the food hub.
A total of 27 representatives of vegetable producers, farmers’ associations, and cooperatives from Paquibato, Marilog, Baguio, Toril, and Tugbok districts attended DFTC’s opening.
Private trader groups from Bankerohan and Toril, and traders from Davao del Sur and Davao del Norte are also present.
Joseph Laborte, President of the Highland Vegetable Growers Association (HVGA) from Tugbok District, said that the opening of DFTC will help small farmers as it provides a direct market and an area where they could sell their products at a higher price.
”In our area, our product is only bought for PHP7-8 but it could be sold at a higher price here in DFTC, as much as PHP12,” he added.
Edgardo Haspe, officer-in-charge of the City Agriculturist Office said, their office deployed two trucks that will provide transportation assistance to farmers’ cooperatives that do not have vehicles to deliver their products to DFTC.
“We have 118 slots open on a first come first serve basis. Farmers and producers can bring their products and display them once there are available slots. This is different from other wholesale areas wherein you need to rent the space for the whole month even if you do not have any product,” Haspe said.
To ensure direct markets for their products, City Cooperative and Development Office (CCDO) Head Luzminda Eblamo said that cooperatives that buy vegetables and fruits are also among the DFTC partners.
This means that these coops also act as consolidators for their members that will buy the fruit and vegetable products from the DFTC. (photo by City Government of Davao) ###