AgriXchange Davao benefits Dabawenyos

THE Facebook group AgriXchange Davao is already being used by about 400 Dabawenyos for agricultural trade of different crops and related products.

AgriXchange Davao is launched by the City Agriculture’s Office (CAO) on March 19 at Abreeza Ayala Malls during the first ever AgriBiz Expo by CAO.

The main purpose of the Facebook group is to serve as an "agri-bagsakan" where Dabawenyos can buy and sell any agricultural products.

As of Tuesdsay, March 27, the group already has 396 members.

According to CAO officer-in-charge Leo Brian Leuterio, they target to exceed the 400 mark by April and to reach 1,000 members before the end of 2018.

Because the engagements in the group had commenced, Leuterio said they are glad with its turnout. So far, posts on the page are particularly about seeing buyers and/or sellers of organic lettuce, fruit juice, potting mix, coffee seedlings, grape seedlings, and bananas among others.

“I am happy with the people’s feedback with the AgriXchange Davao Facebook group because it is really one of mandates – to give farmers access to the market even in this modern way. We are happy and we are hopeful that this may become a model platform of other places in the country,” Leuterio told Sunstar Davao in an interview.

With less than a month after its official launching, AgriXchange Davao had already sparked at least four negotiations from the posts. This includes those looking for buyers and/or sellers of grape seedlings, coffee seedlings, lettuce, and potting mix.

As for potting mix, Leuterio said initial payments had already been made but for the seedlings and the lettuce inquiries of sure buyers had already been made.

In order to sustain and reach their 1,000 members before the year ends, Leuterio said they are planning to meet with the Davao Restaurant Owners Association (DROA) to discuss the nuances they prefer like the different variety of vegetables as well as the specific quantity and quality that they would need.

In an earlier interview with DROA president Benjie Lizada, he suggested that the restaurants and hotel owners would source their raw agricultural products from local social enterprise or farmers’ cooperatives instead of individual farmers or growers to sustain the network as well as to have a variety of commodities.

“Somebody has to be in between the seller and the buyer and that should be a social enterprise or a cooperative, not just anyone else who wants to make a profit,” Lizada said.

At present, there are already 830 registered restaurants in Davao City.

Leuterio also said they try to keep posts informative by asking people to include the selling price, location or production area, and pictures of the products and commodities. If the selling price varies, they encourage people to indicate it in the caption.