Sultan Kudarat’s farm-to-market road completed in May

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 12 (Soccsksargen) said that the construction of the P21.7-million farm-to-market road in Bagumbayan, Sultan Kudarat had already started as it aims to enhance the agricultural produce transportation and improve the connectivity of the local farmers to the market.

The DTI-12 said in a statement on Saturday, January 20, that the 1.37-kilometer road is set to be completed by May 2024 and will benefit more than 440 farmers in the area.

The construction is funded by the Rural Agro-enterprise Partnership for Inclusive Development and Growth (Rapid Growth) project and the local government of Bagumbayan, while the implementation of the road project will be executed under the technical support of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

“The aim of this project is to provide better market access, particularly for our fellow citizens, especially the farmers who are the primary beneficiaries of the Rapid Growth project,” DTI-12 director Flora Politud-Gabunales said.

Rapid Growth aims to propel agriculture-based processing enterprises and entrepreneurial communities to become innovative, productive and competitive.

“Its ultimate goal is to increase the income of small farmers and unemployed rural women and men by creating favorable conditions for the sustained growth of micro, small and medium enterprises,” the DTI said.

The Rapid Growth project was conceptualized by the DTI and funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

“We want to improve the farmers’ access to the market by facilitating faster transportation of their produce and products,” Gabunales said.

“Additionally, we are focused on the social benefits that this project can bring, especially in terms of accessing faster health care services, education, as well as during times of disaster or emergency.”