USAID-backed online agri trading hub connects farmers to more markets

A screenshot of the NVAT Fresh Online Platform (NVATFresh.com).

MANILA—The United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), launched on Aug 31 a first-of-its-kind e-commerce platform to expand the market reach of Luzon farmer-traders and strengthen the Philippines’ agricultural supply chain.

This project is undertaken in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)  and the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal (NVAT), according to a statement issued by the information office of the US Embassy in the Philippines.

NVAT Fresh Online Platform (NVATFresh.com), managed and operated by the Luzon-based agricultural hub, is a business-to-business (B2B) online platform where farmers can list their produce for large enterprises such as supermarkets, food processing companies, and restaurant chains. Through this,  farmers can leverage competitive pricing, secure consistent income and reduce food wastage. It also ensures the delivery of fresh, affordable produce straight to businesses and consumers.

Through its five-year, P1-billion ($18 million) Strengthening Private Enterprises for the Digital Economy (SPEED) project, USAID provided technical assistance, onboarding support, and training for NVAT and its stakeholders who use the platform.

In its initial phase, NVAT Fresh Online is projected to facilitate the sales of 5,000 tons of produce, accounting for 3 percent of NVAT’s total volume. Estimates anticipate sales surging to roughly 20,000 tons, generating P500 million ($8.8 million) by its fifth operational year.

In her remarks, USAID Philippines Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks emphasized the crucial role that farmers play in achieving inclusive and resilient economic growth.

“As your partner in prosperity, the United States remains committed to supporting the Philippines in advancing digitalization to help improve the lives of farmers and agricultural traders, and more importantly, enhance the country’s food security,” Eubanks said.

“Thank you, USAID, for heeding our call. To say that NVAT is a trailblazer is an understatement. The birth of NVAT Fresh is a significant accomplishment,” Trade Secretary Alfredo Pascual said in remarks delivered by Trade Undersecretary and chief of staff Ana Carolina Sanchez.

Meanwhile, Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban highlighted the impact of platforms like NVAT Fresh Online on farmers.

“The most striking feature of progress in agriculture today is the rapid increase in the utilization of information technology to provide both farmers and consumers alike with reliable, data-driven information and guidance,” Panganiban said.

“In agriculture, we can attribute that swift increase to the presence of strong dynamic networks of collaboration between development institutions like USAID, the national government, and local extension services,” he added.

NVAT ranks among the country’s most extensive wholesale markets for fresh produce, delivering 60 percent of its fresh fruits and vegetables to Metro Manila and Central Luzon. As a pivotal hub, it distributes products sourced from various provinces including Benguet, Ifugao, and Pangasinan.

Through SPEED, USAID aims to expand digital transformation across other agricultural and farming communities in the Philippines.

-CSN