PAYING FORWARD
DA-11 farmer-beneficiaries conduct Community Pantry for the urban poor, fire victims
INSTEAD of paying tribute to farmers and fishers, the Department of Agriculture-Davao Region (DA-11) celebrates this year’s Farmers and Fisherfolk’s Month with its farmer-beneficiaries pay it forward amid the pandemic through the conduct of community pantries.
On Monday, May 3, 2021, Davao farmers distributed 600 kilos of fruits and 120 kilos assorted vegetables as well as meat products, canned goods and noodles to the Community Pantry for the 150 fire victims in Brgy. Ilang, Tibungco, Davao City and in the Community Pantry for the Urban Poor organized by the Missionaries of the Assumption at the Assumption College of Davao benefitting 300 individuals per day.
“This is our way of saying thank you to the government for the assistance that we received during the pandemic. We received free vegetables seeds from DA-11 to continue our vegetable production and even supported us in marketing our produce even during travel restrictions through the conduct of the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita marketing outlets,” said United Farmers Association of Tamayong (UFAT) President Benjamin Musa.
There are 11 Davao farmer co-ops/associations who participated in the said activities including the Mahalyang Vegetable and Fruits Coop, Macatabo Vegetables Farmers Association, Rural Improvement Club Federation-Calinan District, Donnabella Agro Ventures, Gel Reich/Abundant Harvest, Magsasakang Progresibo Marketing Group, Simply Help, Manambulan Backyard Farmers Association, Association of Davao Organic Advocates, Biao Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative, and the United Farmers Association of Tamayong.
DA-11 through its Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (Amad) has been conducting the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the entire country was placed under community quarantine.
Aside from consumers’ easy-access to safe and healthy food, Davao farmers also benefit from the Kadiwa by providing them market doors for their produce. With the partner coops buying their produce right at their doorsteps — cutting the transportation cost and increasing additional income.
Meanwhile, DA-11 Regional Executive Director Ricardo M. Oñate, Jr. has expressed his support for the community pantries conducted and said that the agency will continue to intensify the programs and projects for the Davao farmers.
“I would like to thank our farmer-beneficiaries for this initiative of giving back to the community. With your strong support, we are able to realize our three-fold mission of food availability, accessibility, and affordability in this time of health crisis. May pandemya man o wala, maaasahan talaga ang ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda,” Oñate said.
The Community Pantry for the Urban Poor will run every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at the Assumption College of Davao with the Kitchen of Hope feeding program every Tuesday and Thursday in partnership with the Missionaries of the Assumption program lead Sr. Flora Secuya. /