5.8-B farm, fishery products sold through DA’s ‘Kadiwa’

About 15.8 billion worth of farm and fishery products were sold through the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) ‘Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita’ marketing platforms, which had so far benefited around 1.3 million households nationwide.

“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,” DA Secretary William Dar said.

The DA commended more than 750 Kadiwa outlets and communities, and 425 local government units (LGUs) that procured 13.45 billion and 12.38 billion, respectively, of various products from more than 15,000 individual farmers and fishers, and 3,250 farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) nationwide, assuring them of direct market and reasonable incomes.

“In particular, we thank the 425 LGUs for buying almost 12 billion worth of palay and rice that formed part of subsidized food packs distributed to their constituents,” Dar said.

In addition to palay and rice, the LGUs bought poultry and livestock animals, and meat products, worth P193 million; vegetables, fruits and other crops – 194.6 million; fish and aquaculture products – 192.3 million; and corn, seeds and other and farm inputs – worth 1870,000.

The LGUs directly bought the above farm and fishery products 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 13.45 billion, through more than 755 Kadiwa outlets, barangays, and communities.

“The increasing sales of Kadiwa shows that more farm and fishery producers are participating in our cause to address the food requirements of consumers,” Dar said.

He also noted 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,” Dar added.