DA lauds growing biz ties between private companies and farmers in time of Covid-19
THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said more and more private corporations are directly buying produce from local farmers as a way to help them cope with the detrimental impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the agriculture sector.
In a news statement issued on Thursday, the DA said several companies and institutional buyers have started joining its Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita marketing program that seeks to directly connect farmers to retail consumers and end-users to facilitate easier trade, particularly during these challenging times.
In particular, DA cited Agrinurture
Inc. and San Miguel Corp. for their efforts and interest to purchase more agricultural produce from local farmers on a regular basis.
“We, at the Department, are more than willing to enter into an undertaking with ANI, as we look forward to the positive support and assistance that they can provide to our local food producers who have been affected by the enforcement of the enhanced community quarantine [ECQ ],” Agriculture William D. Dar said.
“Also, we thank San Miguel Corp., under the leadership of its President and COO [chief operating officer] Ramon S. Ang, as it will buy 4 million kilos of corn from farmers, and allow the use of strategic Petron stations nationwide as outlets for our Kadiwa rolling stores,” Dar added.
The DA said there are four other institutions that have been buying regularly large volumes of vegetables from the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal (NVAT) and the Benguet Agri-pinoy Trading Center (BAPTC) since the Luzon-wide ECQ was imposed.
These buyers are: OH My Gulay, which buys 12 metric tons of upland vegetables from BAPTC and 12 MT of lowland vegetables from NVAT twice a week; Grow Asia (20 MT of highland vegetables from BAPTC weekly); Shell Philippines (5 MT of highland vegetables from BAPTC weekly) and Victory Liner (4 MT of highland vegetables from BAPTC weekly.)
Furthermore, the DA said it continues to buy more farm produce, through its Kadiwa partners, such as Planters Produce, a subsidiary of Planters Products Inc., and VIEVA Farmers’ Federation.
“The DA will continue to enhance its partnerships with agribusiness companies and institutional buyers to benefit more Filipino farmers and consumers,” Dar said.
“The government cannot do this alone, we need the support of the private sector to help us in this upgraded marketing strategy as we face the challenges of Covid-19,” Dar added.
Since launching Kadiwa in 2019, the DA said it has served 14 cities in the NCR, via 144 Kadiwa on Wheels in 124 barangays and 20 villages and subdivisions.