National Capital Region (NCR) mayors are encouraged to avail of the Enhanced KADIWA ni Ani at Kita Financial Grant Assistance Program of the Department of Agriculture- Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service (DA-AMAS) to ensure availability, affordability, and accessibility of basic agricultural commodities during the community quarantine period.
Through a memorandum, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año instructed the local government units (LGUs) in NCR to support the program through Kadiwa stores, which ensure that consumers have access to affordable agricultural commodities.
“Through the Kadiwa program, farmers can sell their produce directly to the market and the store can offer employment opportunities for displaced workers,” Año said.
“Supporting the DA Kadiwa would be advantageous.”
“Supporting the DA Kadiwa would be advantageous particularly in making sure of the availability, affordability, and accessibility of basic agricultural commodities in the locality,” the local government chief added.
“The KADIWA ni Ani at Kita program is a direct marketing scheme.”
According to DA Asst. Secretary Kristine Evangelista, the KADIWA ni Ani at Kita program is a direct marketing scheme where farmers/fisherfolk are directly linked with the consuming public, making available food commodities at reasonable prices to consumers through accessible Kadiwa retail stores in strategic locations.
The financial grant offers one million pesos financial grant to local government units (LGUs) in NCR as start-up capital for the renovation/improvement of Kadiwa Store.
“It aims to enhance the capacities of farmers/fisherfolk organizations to become reliable food commodity suppliers to consumers and for community based-organizations to sustainably operate the Kadiwa retail stores,” Evangelista concluded.
