DA to set up more Kadiwa mobile markets in Metro Manila to provide fresh produce at cheaper prices

Photo courtesy Department of Agriculture

 

(Eagle News) – The Department of Agriculture will be providing more mobile agricultural markets through the “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita” in Metro Manila so that more people in the Philippine capital would have fresh farm and fishery products at affordable prices.

“We will open more this week to benefit more urban families, and at the same time provide our Luzon farmers and fishers direct market and thus earn for their respective products,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.

“Through this, we are hoping that we could provide an assured market for our farmers and fisheries, while providing cheaper and nutritious food to our people, especially in this time of crisis,” he said.

Dar said that thousands have benefited from the Kadiwa outlet launched last week at the DA’s Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) along Elliptical Road in Quezon City.

Additional Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita outlets will be set up near Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, and other participating local government units, by the DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS).

The Kadiwa stall in DA-ATI opens weekly every Thursday to Saturday from 6 am to 5 pm, while the stall in Cainta serves every Friday to Sunday, also from 6 am to 5 pm.

The agriculture department said in a statement that it targets to deliver 10 to 12 metric tons of fresh produce to sustain the Kadiwa operations in Metro Manila.

“We have engaged Pateros, Quezon City, Caloocan, Taguig, and Pasig in the services of Kadiwa on Wheels. The number is growing and in the next weeks, we expect more orders from other LGUs in metropolitan areas,” said DA assistant secretary for agribusiness Kristine Evangelista.

To date, at least four LGUs (Las Piñas, Makati, Pasig, and Pateros) and two executive villages (Valle Verde and Don Jose Heights subdivisions) have expressed interest to participate in the DA Kadiwa initiative, she added.

Dar hopes that the Kadiwa mobile markets could be brought down to the barangay levels.

He said that hopefully LGUs in Metro Manila and other metropolis will consider establishing Kadiwa stores in their respective areas.

The Kadiwa outlets sell fresh vegetables and other agri-fishery products that are at least 20 percent cheaper than those sold at Metro Manila public markets.

Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita is a collaborative project of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior and Local Government, and Food Terminal Inc. (FTI).

The project, re-launched in September 2019, aims to establish a direct marketing link between farmers and fishers, and consumers.

“Through this, we are hoping that we could provide an assured market for our farmers and fisheries, while providing cheaper and nutritious food to our people, especially in this time of crisis,” Dar said.

(Eagle News Service)