Butuan, Philippines — The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through its Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development (RAPID) and Growth Project, achieved a significant milestone with the turnover of Caraga ’s first farm-to-market infrastructure (FMI) in Sta. Josefa, Agusan del Sur, following a successful supervision and implementation support mission by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
On 27 May, the DTI-Caraga held a regional consultation meeting attended by the IFAD mission team along with the national, regional, and provincial project staff, as well as implementing partners from various regional line agencies to review the region’s project milestones and discuss future strategies.
Further, the meeting focused on vital topics like farm-to-market infrastructure, finance, and value chains culminating in impactful consultations with the Cabadbaran Cacao Growers Association (CCGA) Inc. at Puting Bato, Cabadbaran City, and Deseo Food Products at Balang-balang, Remedios T. Romualdez Municipality.
IFAD Rural Infra Specialist, Engr. Clovis Ike Payumo, also conducted an FMI site
validation at Sitio Matingue, Santiago the following day. Simultaneously, IFAD
Value Chain Specialist, Mr. Florante Villas, led a value chain consultation with the
United Small Farmers Association.
The event wrapped-up with a ceremonial turnover and a productive value chain consultation with Janicahh Food Products and its partner Farmers Organizations, focusing on commercial partnership updates and on-the-ground project implementation. ♦
Date of release: 07 June 2024
