Solon says farmers can have direct link to retailers through digital platforms like dating apps
A LAWMAKER said farmers can cut out middlemen and sell directly to retailers through digital platforms like dating apps, citing a model project in Butuan City called AgriBOOST.
“These apps would sort of be like dating apps but being matched are the farmers, livestock raisers and fisherfolk on one side, while on the other side are vendors for public markets, supermarkets and cooperatives,” said Rep. Lawrence H. Fortun who represents the 1st district of Agusan del Norte which covers Butuan.
The city, located in southern Philippines, was one of the 15 winners of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ 2021 Global Mayors Challenge for the AbriBOOST project.
Mr. Fortun called on telecommunication companies and financial institutions to step in to hasten the development of similar initiatives across the country.
He said telecom service providers can tap their e-commerce platforms to make “mobile apps for farmers, livestock growers, and fishermen to achieve sustainable and profitable economies”.
In the financial sector, he said the Banko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Agriculture can jointly draft guidelines for the establishment of regional and national commodities trading boards.
“The regional bourses must be auditable by the country’s many reputable audit firms and should address current and immediate local supply and demand, as well as future needs of the market within 12 months, especially the lean months or up to three cycles of harvests,” he said. — Jaspearl Emerald G. Tan
