Forty-two farmers’ associations and cooperatives from the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) received P700.44 million-worth of project assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA).

Agriculture Secretary William Dar, who awarded the interventions during a farmers’ forum on September 20, 2019 in La Trinidad, Benguet, mentioned that the government has been doubling its effort to provide farmers the necessary assistance to increase their productivity and income and make them more competitive.

The project assistance covers various farm machineries including tractors, irrigation systems, and harvesters; farming technologies including greenhouse; and other farm inputs.

In line with DA’s battlecry of bountiful harvest and prosperous farmers and fisherfolk, Dar also mentioned the reviving of the “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita” – a government initiative that is both pro-farmers and pro-consumers.

“Merong mga kaakibat na tulong at credit facilities ang bawat programa ng DA. We want to link farmers to market facilities in Metro Manila so that we can give them better opportunities to produce and earn more,” Dar said.

Launched on September 13 in Taguig City, “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita” is a market system that sells major agricultural goods at reasonably low prices to help poor Filipino households. It will establish a direct link between the farmers/fisherfolk and the consuming public. Through this strategy, farmer-producers get the best prices for their goods, while providing affordable, safe, and nutritious food to the consumers.

“Through this intervention, we can now link farmers from Benguet to major market outlets in Metro Manila and even other cities in Cordillera and all over Luzon,” Dar added. ### (Rita dela Cruz)