The DFTC, a PHP70-million project funded by the Davao Region Department of Agriculture (DA-11), will serve as the city's official wholesale trading facility for all fruits and vegetables.
Photo Credits to DA
"With a land area of five hectares, the wholesale facility is large enough to accommodate the majority of agricultural produce in the city as well as those from neighboring regions," CAGRO chief Edgardo Haspe said in an interview Wednesday.
Haspe added that the DFTC has a cold storage facility with eight refrigerated containers.
Once the DFTC is operational, all fruits and vegetables from neighboring regions will be routed through it before reaching local retail markets.
Within a year of the DFTC's operation, farmers within the city will still be allowed to unload their produce in the public markets of Agdao, Bankerohan, Buhangin, Piapi, Matina Crossing, Calinan, Toril, Sasa, and Tibungco.
Haspe stated that after this transition period, all produce sourced within and outside of the city's borders will be unloaded at the DFTC.
Haspe stated that the DFTC will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week because it will function as a wholesale market or "bagsakan" of agricultural goods.
CAGRO, City Economic Enterprise, and the City Cooperative Development Office will all have satellite offices within the facility to oversee operations and ensure fair farm gate prices for produce.
Haspe stated that because all fruits and vegetables will be unloaded at the same facility, prices will be easier to determine and monitor, ensuring the best market conditions for farmers.
"Our farmers will truly understand the current market price—price for retailing, wholesale, and, ultimately, the market price."
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