DAVAO CITY (May 28) —- Farmers in the city need not depend on middlemen to sell their produce, as the P70-million Davao Food Terminal Complex (DFTC) in Daliao, Toril formally opened yesterday.
The project was conceptualized in 2014, with then Mayor, now President Rodrigo Duterte through former Department of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.
The food terminal is aimed at providing small-scale farmers the facility where they can directly sell their products without passing through a middleman or a merchant, who often gave them capital and buy their produce at a very low price.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio who led the opening of the complex, in her message, stressed “Given how this food terminal can ensure that farmer’s products can be directly sold to the consumers without the intervention of middlemen, the project shall be of mutual benefit for the farmers and the customers in Davao City.”
On February 25, the City Council passed a resolution which prescribed the rates and charges which will be imposed to the users.
The City Council approved the P12 space rental per square meter daily which will be imposed for parking fee, space or stall rental fee, washing fees for products, fees for commodities, dormitory fee, and training hall rental fee.
Earlier on, City Agriculturist’s Office (CAO) head Leo Brian Leuterio said farmers will benefit from the said complex by actively trading of agricultural products in a regular market at a competitive price.
Yesterday, the Mayor said the food terminal for small-scale fruit and vegetable farmers is the city government’s response to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goal to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture”.
The mayor said the food terminal also seeks to boost food security and defeat hunger amid the changing climate and increasing food demand across the globe.
According to DA-11 Director Ricardo Oñate Jr., said the food terminal also ensures that farmers like those from far-flung villages of Toril, Baguio district, Marilog, Paquibato, and Malabog, will not have a hard time selling their goods because they can directly deliver their products to DFTC.-ezc/NewsLine.ph
