Addressing one of the most crucial parts of the food value chain, which is marketing, the Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the Provincial Local Government Unit of Ilocos Norte and the City Government of Batac, inaugurated today the P30 million worth trading center located in Brgy. Billoca, Batac City, Ilocos Norte, to be known as the Ilocos Norte Agricultural Trading Center (INATC).
The project will serve as a central hub expected to meet the marketing requirements of farmers, promote agricultural and agri-based products of the province, and help lessen the transport expenses of farmers in bringing products closer to consumers.
Funded by the Department of Agriculture, the trading center aims to improve the current marketing systems by reducing traders’ and middlemen’s involvement in marketing operations and ensuring higher income for farmers by 15 to 25 percent.
Situated on a 10-hectare land near the Batac City Public Market donated by the Batac City Government as a counterpart to the project, the trading center is expected to be completed by Aug. 2024.
Of the P30 million project cost, P26 million was allocated for the construction of the building, P3.5 million for the hauling and delivery truck, and P500,000 for the purchase of marketing equipment such as heavy-duty digital weighing scale, plastic crates, plastic pallets, jack lifts and other equipment.
Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Marcos Manotoc, in his message during the event, recognized the importance of the project to the farming community in Ilocos as it will not only help farmers become better entrepreneurs but ensure that they are protected and prioritized through the project.
Meanwhile, Batac City Mayor Albert Chua and SB Member Mark Christian Chua both expressed their gratitude to DA-RFO I and the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte for choosing Batac as the recipient of the project, recognizing how the project would help bring socio-economic benefits to their constituents.
Likewise, in her message, DA-RFO I Regional Executive Director Annie Q. Bares encouraged the proper use and management of the facility so that it could fully serve its purpose in helping lessen the post-production expenses of farmers, eliminate unnecessary marketing layers that reduce the income of the food producers, and create competitive marketing for Ilocos Norte’s local agricultural produce.