The governm

ent’s Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita (Kadiwa) program has earned for participating farmers in Western Visayas P240.28 million in total sales in pop-up (on wheels) and retail stores, benefiting around 668,772 households since it started operations in 2020.

Data from the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) of the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office-6 (DA-6) showed that the highest sales were generated during the time of the health pandemic with over P68.25 million, which benefited 226,294 households in 2020, and P114.757 million which served 299,297 households in 2021.

“During the pandemic, public markets were closed so they bought from the Kadiwa,” DA-AMAD 6 chief, Maria Teresa Solis said in an interview.

Kadiwa also earned farmers around P26.9 million, availed by 67,251 households in 2022, and P30.37 million during the first half of this year.

The simultaneous nationwide launch of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo on July 17, earned P1.04 million for 177 exhibitors in Western Visayas.

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. in his State of the Nation Address cited the continuous implementation of Kadiwa which sells farm produce at lower prices, benefitting not only the consumers but also farmers and cooperatives.

Solis said they were coordinating with local government units (LGUs) and cooperatives for them to provide a venue for producers and farmers where they could regularly sell their products.

She said they were also looking into the accessibility of Department of Trade and Industry centers as Kadiwa outlets as recommended by Bureau of Plant Industry Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban.

In Iloilo City, Solis said they partnered with the Uswag rolling stores that operate in various district plazas on scheduled dates.

LGUs are partners of the department in implementing programs and projects since the provincial and municipal offices are already devolved, she added. (PNA)