DAVAO CITY – Given the coronavirus pandemic, still Davao farmers earned over P4.8-million when the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) bought their produce and sell it through its mobile market dubbed as ‘Kadiwa on Wheels”.
Selling farm and fishery products could have been a challenge for farmers given the Enhanced Community Quarantine in the region but through the DA’s program the farmers and the consumers benefit the program, the farmer can sell their products while the consumers get as scheduled in the villages at a reasonable price, they do not need to travel.
In a month’s operation, it was able to sell some P4.8 says Juvy Pregon, the agency’s market specialist told the Philippine News Agency.
The “Kadiwa on Wheels” has benefited the underground economy whose workers are on a “no work, no pay” basis.
Those who are behind the project are the workers who instead of sending them home, are now working on the mobile market and have earned for their families while selling the farmers produce.
The PNA quoted Pregon “Some stores are forced to send their workers home because of the mobility restrictions, limiting the number of their personnel to observe social distancing,” but through Kadiwa they managed their own stalls.
Pregon said the initiative has been successful in addressing food supply problems that some barangays are now emulating it.
The DA’s “Kadiwa on Wheels” is selling agricultural and fishery products from 16 farmers and fisherfolk associations with about 600 members said Noel Provido the spokesperson of the DA-XI.
Setting up a mobile market, Privido said, is one of the marching orders of DA Secretary William Dar, as the government wants food to be available and affordable for everyone.
The Kadiwa on Wheels will continue to move around until the pandemic is over, but the agency plans to make in a steady program through the agency’s online purchasing platform dubbed as “E-Kadiwa.” Editha Z. Caduaya with PNA report
