MORE THAN 4,700 farmers in the Cagayan Valley region are expected to be onboarded to an e-commerce platform to market and sell their products.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and an agri-tech platform are partnering with GrabPay to further develop the online purchase and delivery system for fresh and processed products from Cagayan Valley.
Representatives from DTI, e-commerce platform Mayani, and mobile payment platform GrabPay signed a memorandum of understanding at an online event on Thursday.
The objective of the partnership, the agreement says, is to increase the market access of smallholder farmers, farmer cooperatives, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the region. Products on the platform can be ordered by Metro Manila customers, through the platform’s preferred payment platform GrabPay.
Mayani Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer JT Solis said the partnership will reach 4,761 farmers and almost 500 agri-small businesses.
Before the agreement, Mayani had been working with more than 1,200 smallholder farmers across the country, most of which are from Cagayan Valley.
“So many of our communities are looking toward economic recovery, and it’s just undeniable that digitalization and cashless payments adoption will remain key for micro-entrepreneurs and small businesses to thrive and be more resilient,” GrabPay Philippines Head Jonathan Bates said. — Jenina P. Ibañez
