To strengthen market access in Carmen, Davao del Norte, the Department of Agriculture in Davao Region (DA-11) turned over a PHP6.4 million Kadiwa store and transport/delivery vehicle on Wednesday afternoon.

Implemented via the Kadiwa Financial Grant Assistance Program, the initiative aims to benefit 24 farmers’ cooperatives and associations, reaching about 2,926 beneficiaries, including vegetable growers, banana producers, livestock raisers, aquafarm operators, and fisherfolk.

In a statement Thursday, DA Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing, and Consumer Affairs Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra emphasized the project’s advantages, noting that the facility will help bring local products closer to consumers.

“With a dedicated Kadiwa store and delivery vehicle, farmers in Carmen will have a more accessible venue to directly sell their produce. This reduces dependence on middlemen, lowers transport costs, and offers better earning opportunities from harvest,” Guevarra said.

She said the project creates a dedicated outlet and logistics support to facilitate direct farmer-to-consumer and farmer-to-institution sales, lowering transport costs and postharvest losses through better consolidation and delivery.

“Through the Kadiwa outlet and delivery vehicle, the initiative will support consolidation, scheduled hauling, and direct retailing of agricultural commodities. It will strengthen local food supply chains and expand market opportunities for producers in Davao del Norte,” Guevarra said. (PNA)