TUGUEGARAO CITY: The Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office 2 (DA-RFO2) through its Agri Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) gave a big lift to the Itbayat farmers in Batanes as it provided free transportation of their garlic produce with its Kadiwa truck.
Dr. Ferdinand Cortez of the DA-RFO2 Regional Agriculture and Fisheries Information Section said 1.6 tons of garlic were delivered with Kadiwa ni Ani and Kita Outlets, with the Farmers Cooperative and Associations in Cagayan Valley getting 1,000 kilograms.
He said the remaining 600 kilograms were sold to the DA Kadiwa Center in Quezon City for institutional buyers who ordered through the DA-Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service.
Earlier, FreshBuysPH was able to acquire 200 kilograms from the garlic association in Region 2 through the AMAD market linkage assistance program.
Cortez said the Itbayat Garlic Producers Association of Itbayat town in Batanes is a recipient of Enhanced Kadiwa Financial Grant called trading-working capital amounting to P500,000 during the last quarter of 2021.
He also encouraged interested producers’ groups, buyers and partners to collaborate with the DA-AMAD which offers market information, market linkage and product promotion, agribusiness promotion and agribusiness development services.
“Through these and other agribusiness programs, the DA-RFO2 will assist garlic farmers in the Cagayan Valley,” Cortez said.
Meanwhile, the DA-AMAD has also extended its services to the Nueva Vizcaya ginger farmers and found buyers and markets for their produce.
Headed by Ma Rosario Paccarangan, DA-AMAD in Region 2 is also assisting banana farmers in Peñablanca, Cagayan in selling their harvest.