Local farmers have earned P5.8 billion from selling their produce to local government units (LGUs) and through the government’s marketing platforms during the months-long lockdowns, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
“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 farmers’ cooperatives and associations nationwide, assuring them of direct market and reasonable incomes,” Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar said in a recent statement.
Dar said LGUs bought palay worth almost P2 billion; poultry and livestock products, P193 million; vegetables, fruits and other crops, P94.6 million; and fisheries and aquaculture products, P92.3 million.
The agriculture chief said the DA’s Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita marketing program—which is implemented in various platforms, such as retail stores and online—has benefited about 1.3 million households.
“The increasing sales of Kadiwa shows that more farm and fishery producers are participating in our cause to address the food requirements of consumers,” said Dar.
“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 and fishers participating in the Kadiwa program.”
Dar said the Kadiwa marketing program shall continue under the country’s ”new normal” to serve as households’ food commodity supplier, especially in high-demand areas like Metro Manila.
In a separate statement, conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) said it will expand the network of its Kadiwa rolling stores at Metro Manila-based Petron gas stations to further support farmers and provide consumers easier access to fresh fruits and vegetables.
SMC said the new Kadiwa stores would be located at the following Petron gas stations: Bel-Air Gil Puyat corner Makati Avenue; Edsa—Sierra Madre; Dasmariñas, Edsa; Katipunan Avenue (La Vista), Quezon City; Shaw Boulevard corner Wack Wack; C5-Diego Silang, Taguig; Edsa corner Main Avenue Cubao; 188 E. Rodriguez Jr. Quezon City; Marcos Highway, Pasig; Connecticut, San Juan; Ninoy Aquino Avenue, Sucat, Parañaque; Doña Soledad Avenue Better Living, Paranaque; and Dr. A Santos Avenue, Sucat Road, Parañaque.
“Although we are glad to see more traditional markets opening up and catering to more people, there is still a need for the Kadiwa stores, especially for those who live nearby looking for a convenient way to buy fresh fruits and vegetables. Anytime they stop by to fill up on fuel, or even if they’re just walking from home, we hope they will buy fresh produce to help our local farmers,” SMC President Ramon S. Ang said.