The Department of Agriculture (DA) will set up more ‘Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita’ outlets to serve more consumers in Metro Manila, providing them fresh farm and fishery products at affordable prices.
Following the success of the Kadiwa outlet launched recently at the DA’s Agricultural Training Institute (ATI), along Elliptical Road in Quezon City, Agriculture Secretary William Dar said, “we are pleased that thousands of Quezon City residents benefited from the DA-ATI Kadiwa mobile market.”
“We will open more to benefit more urban families.”
“We will open more 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,” Dar added.
The Kadiwa outlets sell fresh vegetables and other agri-fishery products that are at least 20 percent cheaper than those sold at MM public markets.
Additional Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita outlets will be set up near Elliptical Road, Diliman, Quezon City, and other participating LGUs, by the DA’s Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (AMAS).
“The number is growing and in the next weeks, we expect more orders from other LGUs in metropolitan areas.”
“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, Evangelista added.
The agriculture chief is hopeful that more local chief executives in Metro Manila and other metropolis will consider establishing Kadiwa stores in their respective areas, which can be brought down to barangay levels.
The DA targets to deliver 10 to 12 metric tons of fresh produce to sustain the Kadiwa operations in Metro Manila.
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,” the agriculture head said.
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.