The Department of Agriculture (DA) plans to expand “KADIWA” outlets so that more Metro Manila residents will have access to quality, safe, and affordable agri-fishery products.
KADIWA is a marketing initiative of DA, implemented through the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance (AMAS), which seeks to empower the farming community by providing a direct and effective farm-to-consumer food supply chain.
The model eliminates as many marketing layers, allowing producers to earn bigger from directly selling their produce instead of using trader-intermediaries. It reduces marketing expenses, thus making the fresh and quality products more affordable for consumers.
KADIWA, which was enhanced during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, helped stabilize prices and supply of staple foods that were impacted by the enforcement of community lockdowns.
As of July 31, the KADIWA program has benefitted 151 farmers cooperatives and associations (FCA). DA-AMAS conducts KADIWA nationwide and 11 cities in Metro Manila.
To further enhance the implementation of KADIWA, new innovative platforms and modalities were implemented:
• KADIWA Retail Selling provides its suppliers an area to directly sell their goods to the consumers. Under this scheme, government offices, LGUs and private sector may request to DA for the conduct the KADIWA Retail Selling activity in their own areas;
• KADIWA On-wheels is a mobile market (similar to rolling store) to serve the communities and/or barangays;
• KADIWA Express will tap the private sector and LGUs in the transport and distribution of fresh produce from Agri-Pinoy Centers to designated drop-off points in Metro Manila; and
• E-Kadiwa is an online marketing platform that connects producers and agripreneurs to consumers. The website was managed by the DA-Information Communication Technology Service (ICTS). Under this strategy, sellers will be allowed to sell their agriculture products, including vegetables, rice and fruits at the suggested retail prices.
Last year, DA-AMAS launched the “Enhanced KADIWA Financial Grant Assistance” program, which aims to capacitate the farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives and associations (FCAs) to become reliable and efficient food commodity suppliers.
For sugar and eggs, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is expanding KADIWA with more Kadiwa on Wheels to sell sugar at at P70/kilo while eggs at P170 per tray or P5.75 per pc for assorted XS, Small and Medium eggs. It will be situated in church grounds through a partnership with Caritas and parish priests.
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., in his first State of the Nation Address stressed that the government’s top priority is to bring down the prices of basic food commodity and make it affordable, including reviving KADIWA centers.
“Para sa pang-matagalang solusyon: itataas natin ang produksyon ng mga kalakal at produktong pang-agrikultura. At para magawa ito, pagtitibayin natin ang tinatawag na value chain na nagsisimula sa mga magsasaka hanggang sa mga namimili,” he said.
The President also announced in his interviews that KADIWA should be established in every barangay to help consumers buy basic necessities like food products at lower prices compared to those being sold in regular markets and stores.
He said the current model still needs improvement, particularly in linking it to the Food Terminal Inc. to ensure that the public would have access to sufficient supply of locally produced goods. ### (Kristel Joyce Merle, DA-AFID)
