The DA-Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), Farm to MAYANI Inc. (MAYANI), and Kalipunan ng Samahan ng Kalalakihan ng Mataas na Parang Inc. sealed a memorandum of understanding on facilitating and creating market access for smallholder farmers and fisherfolk, farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs), and agriculture and fisheries micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) on 28 June 2022 in Diliman, Quezon City.
“In the conventional market system, ang daming layers sa market…ang kita nasa traders, hindi sa farmers. We have to eliminate those layers…We are collaborating with you so that, through us, farmers can actively partner with you. Through the [DA-]BAR support, technologies are developed to increase farm productivity…but para mas happy ang farmers, we ensure their income through market, do’n kayo papasok,” said DA-BAR director Dr. Junel Soriano during the meeting prior to the signing.
Under the said MOU, the bureau, through research for development (R4D) implementing agencies, shall provide necessary R4D support and facilitate transfer of technologies to agriculture and fisheries producers and processors for them to produce quality products and respond to the demands of the market. Meanwhile, MAYANI, through its e-commerce and innovative agri-food supply chain, shall provide the enabling technology platform that will allow FCAs and MSMEs to sell their fresh and processed products to untapped markets. MAYANI shall also identify the types, quality standard, and volume of fresh and processed products to be sold in their e-commerce platform.
The Kalipunan ng Samahan ng Kalalakihan ng Mataas na Parang Inc., an FCA based in Central Luzon shall serve as the pilot partner in the region for the collaborative intervention and initiative. With assistance from the bureau through the concerned implementing R4D agency, the FCA shall ensure the product quality standard and meet the volume set by MAYANI.
“We must leverage technology to market the products of our farmers and fishers,” emphasized JT Solis, co-founder and CEO of MAYANI.
Launched in 2019, MAYANI is an agri-ecommerce platform that helps farmers who are unable to sell and market their produce by linking them to a wider customer base through e-commerce. Bureau assistant directors Joell Lales and Anthony Obligado witnessed the MOU signing. (### Mara Shyn Valdeabella-Pacunana)