A member of the House Committee on Agriculture and Food is urging the Department of Agriculture (DA) to continue seeking institutional partners to connect small farmers to markets, enhance the agricultural value chain, and help reduce crop wastage in the country.

This comes after DA recently announced that at least eight institutional buyers have expressed interest in sourcing red onions directly from Mindoro following a virtual market matching conducted on March 31.

The DA added that the potential monthly demand from these buyers ranges from five to 16 metric tons.

“Institutional partnerships are a good avenue that we can explore to ensure the livelihood of agricultural workers and minimize crop wastage. I hope that the DA continues to engage partners in the private sector in this regard,” Abra Lone District Rep. JB Bernos said in a statement Friday.

In 2024, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said that about 30 percent of the country’s agricultural produce, especially vegetables, was wasted due to a poor logistics system.

Tiu Laurel, however, admitted that there is no accurate data to quantify farm losses, and that the 30 percent estimate was based on his experience as an owner of a cold chain logistics company.

Bernos said institutional buyers also complement heavy investments in post-harvest facilities.

“Having ready buyers addresses the uncertainty that farmers usually face in selling their produce,” he noted.

The lawmaker also touted the DA’s role in mediating between producers and buyers and ensuring that farmers benefit from these purchase agreements. (PNA)