The Department of Agriculture lauds the strong support of local government units (LGUs), farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs), and community leaders, who altogether bought P5.8-billion worth of farm and fishery products that were included in LGU food packs and others were sold through the DA’s Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita marketing platforms.
“We commend more than 750 Kadiwa outlets and communities, and 425 LGUs that procured P3.45 billion and P2.38 billion, respectively, of various products from more than 15,000 individual farmers and fishers, and 3,250 FCAs nationwide, assuring them of direct market and reasonable incomes,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.
“In particular, we thank the 425 LGUs for buying almost P2-billion worth of palay and rice that formed part of subsidized food packs distributed to their constituents,” the DA chief added.
In addition to palay and rice, the LGUs bought poultry and livestock animals, and meat products, worth P193 million (M); vegetables, fruits and other crops – P94.6 M; fish and aquaculture products – P92.3 M; and corn, seeds and other and farm inputs – worth P870,000.
The LGUs directly bought the above farm and fishery products direct from 277 farmers and 100 FCAs. In addition, 14,864 individual farmers and 3,156 FCAs sold 161 million kilograms of assorted farm and fishery produce, worth P3.45 billion, through more than 755 Kadiwa outlets, barangays, and communities.
To date, the “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita” marketing program has benefited around 1.3 million households nationwide, Secretary Dar said.
“The increasing sales of Kadiwa shows that more farm and fishery producers are participating in our cause to address the food requirements of consumers,” he added, noting that agri-fishery products sold at Kadiwa are cheaper than those in ‘talipapa’ or public markets.
“This is a win-win situation for both consumers and farmer-producers, as consumers gain savings from buying goods at lower prices; and additional income for farmers, fishers or FCAs participating in the Kadiwa program,” Secretary Dar said.
“Even beyond the Covid-19 pandemic or under the ‘new normal’ scenario, we will continue to implement the ‘Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita’ marketing program, as a reliable food commodity supplier in high-demand areas like Metro Manila and other urban centers nationwide,” he concluded. ### (Rita dela Cruz, DA StratComms)
