Optimized to aid more highland farmers and fisherfolk in directly selling their harvests during the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Agriculture Cordillera (DA-CAR) acquired a PhP 1,995,000 worth composite wing van truck to aid in DA’s KADIWA ni Ani at Kita program. The blessing of the truck was with the presence of DA Secretary William Dar at the Baguio Animal Breeding and Research Center (BABRC) on December 23.
Custom built for “KADIWA on wheels” featuring the distribution of quality and affordable agri-fishery commodities to high demand and low income communities, the truck is installed with customized racks to display highland produce. The vehicle will be managed to be used by partner Farmer Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs) to enhance the marketing of vegetable produce.
Throughout the course of the pandemic, the DA through the modalities of KADIWA such as KADIWA retail, KADIWA on wheels, KADIWA express, and e-KADIWA has facilitated the transport and purchase of highland vegetables from partner FCAs including the Cacadcadaan Farmers’ Multi-Purpose Cooperative (MPC), Tuba Benguet Coffee Growers Association, Bosigan MPC, and many other FCAs.
KADIWA Express is where farmers directly sell bulk of their vegetable produce to customers while KADIWA Retailing and KADIWA on Wheels is where farmers sell vegetables to 117 different areas in Baguio, Benguet, Metro Manila, and the KADIWA store located in Guisad, Baguio City. Since March 27 up to this date, KADIWA total sales amounted to about 34 million benefitting about 56 FCAs, 67 Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), and nine Local Government Units (LGUs).
Meanwhile, secretary Dar underscored the efforts of the agriculture sector in sustaining the needs of the Filipino people during the pandemic. According to him “the KADIWA ni ani at kita will continue to be an important intervention by the DA” to create an impact in the price trend of highland vegetables.
“Hindi pa tapos ang laban sa covid 19 pandemic, we don’t know when will it end. Ang sigurado ay ang food security concerns ng ating bansa ay hindi natin nakaligtaan sa last eight months. May sapat po na pagkain para sa lahat ng Filipino,” stressed the agri chief.
Dar also commended the hard work of the workforce of the agriculture sector in their vital role in the value chain. “Ang sector ng agrikultura ay very resilient dahil ang mga magsasaka at mangingisda ay tuloy tuloy po ang pagod, tuloy ang pagsasaka at pangingisda na nagbunga ng magandang resulta dahil walang nagutom na Pilipino sa pandemya, ang presyo ng mga bilihin na galing sa ating sector have been very affordable,” he ended.
The truck was funded under the enhanced KADIWA Inclusive Food Supply Chain Program that aims to support farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives or associations (FCAs) by giving financial support to continuously operate and participate in KADIWA retail modalities. Several hauling trucks have already been turned over to FCAs under the e-KADIWA and more are to be distributed to LGUs next year. **MJDacillo
