Manila, March 12 -- To strengthen market access in Carmen, Davao del Norte, the Department of Agriculture in Davao Region (DA-11) turned over a PHP6.4 million Kadiwa store and transport/delivery vehicle on Wednesday afternoon.

Implemented via the Kadiwa Financial Grant Assistance Program, the initiative aims to benefit 24 farmers' cooperatives and associations, reaching about 2,926 beneficiaries, including vegetable growers, banana producers, livestock raisers, aquafarm operators, and fisherfolk.

In a statement Thursday, DA Assistant Secretary for Agribusiness, Marketing, and Consumer Affairs Genevieve Velicaria-Guevarra emphasized the project's advantages, noting that the facility will help bring local products closer to consumers.

"W...