NORTHERN Mindanao Agriculture department (DA-10) early last week turned over the P15-million grant to help farmers improve and speed up the process of delivering agricultural products from farm and fishing grounds to market.
The program, “Enhanced Kadiwa Financial Grant” aims to provide cooperatives additional capital to purchase supplies and equipment and help them sell their produce directly to consumers.
The certificate of awards from the department under the enhanced kadiwa inclusive food supply chain program were received by the Miarayon Highland Farmers Association (MHFA) and the local government of Talakag, Bukidnon were handed over by PCOO Secretary Martin M. Andanar on Dec. 7.
The grant includes vegetable crates, packing equipment, delivery trucks, and revolving funds as assemblers or consolidators of fresh produce.
DA-10 regional director regional technical director for operations Carlota S. Madriaga said the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita program is to ensure that the products of farmers reach consumers without passing through a multilayered marketing system.
"The traders can’t be the only ones earning—our farmers need to receive their fair share, too," earlier Madriaga said in one of her interviews.
She said the objective is the market prices should remain affordable to consumers.
"Kadiwa program was expanded to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness by capacitating the farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives, associations to become reliable and efficient food commodity suppliers," said Madriaga.
The Kadiwa is one of the main programs of DA under the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) facilitating the market linkage of agri producers to consumers including institutional buyers.
The P1-million grant (working capital and equipment) was received by MHFA president Ryan A. Danio in support of packing house facilities.
The MHFA has 25 active members tilling more than 60 hectares of land in barangay Miarayon and a beneficiary of several DA projects.
Danio said the association delivers 3-5 tons of assorted high value vegetables to Bulua Market in Cagayan de Oro City every week, which are then supplied to Luzon, Visayas and to some areas in Mindanao.
The other P14-million grant for Talakag local government was received by Administrator Alberto Bigcas for the establishment of a regional food terminal project.
Talakag government will manage the regional food terminal which will be established in a 1-hectare area in barangay Miarayon, where the farm is situated, according to Bigcas.
“High value crops are available in Talakag.They have the potential to produce more, whole year round," said Bigcas, adding that they can directly buy from the farmers to benefit and help them too.
Assisting Andanar during the turnover were DA Asst. Sec. for Agribusiness and Marketing Kristine Y. Evangelista, DA-10 regional technical director for operations Carlota S. Madriaga and Army's 4th Infantry Division Commander Maj. Gen Andres C. Centino. (ATCabig)
