The Department of Agriculture (DA) said local government units (LGUs), cooperatives and community leaders had purchased a total of P5.8 billion worth of farm and fishery products to help farmers and fisherfolk.
In a statement, Agriculture Secretary William Dar 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 FCAs nationwide, assuring them of direct market and reasonable incomes.”
Aside from the LGUs, farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) and community leaders purchased the products that became part of LGU food packs, while others were sold through the DA’s Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita marketing channels.
While the LGUs obtained the products directly from farmers and FCAs, Kadiwa outlets, barangays, and local communities bought from individual farmers and FCAs, the DA said.
The DA said the LGU purchases included the following: palay and rice (close to P2 billion); poultry, livestock and meat products (P193 million); fish and aquaculture products (P92.3 million); vegetables, fruits and other crops (P94.6 million worth); and corn, seeds and other and farm inputs (P870,000).
Dar promised, “Even beyond the Covid-19 pandemic or under the ‘new normal’ scenario, we will continue to implement the ‘Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita’ marketing program, as a reliable food commodity supplier in high-demand areas like Metro Manila and other urban centers nationwide.” (Jojo Mangahis)