DA to open more ‘Kadiwa’ stores in Metro Manila next week

March 31, 2020

The Department of Agriculture (DA) will open more outlets selling farm fresh products, including fish, next week.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said Tuesday more ‘Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita’ outlets will be opened to provide Metro Manila residents 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,” he added.

Assistant Agriculture Secretary Noel Reyes, DA spokesma, said ” 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”.

Reyes said “the DA targets to deliver 10 to 12 metric tons of fresh produce to sustain the Kadiwa operations in Metro Manila.”

“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),” he said.

Assistant Agriculture Secretary for Agribusiness Kristine Evangelista said the department “engaged the government of Pateros, Quezon City, Caloocan, Taguig, and Pasig for 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,” she said.

“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.

He said “Secretary Dar is hopeful 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.”

“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.

Reyes said “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,” he said. Robina Asido/DMS