DA, Ileco I launch Kadiwa market in Tigbauan

The Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas in collaboration with Iloilo Electric Cooperative, Inc. (ILECO) 1 opened the KADIWA market outlet in Tigbauan, Iloilo, October 9.

Fresh from the farm products like organically grown fruits, vegetables, root crops, herbs, spices, chicken eggs, and other agricultural processed products will be available at lower costs to consumers every Friday from 8 am to 4 pm at the ILECO 1 headquarters.

KADIWA or the “Katuwang sa DIwa at gaWA para sa Masaganang Ani at Kita” is a marketing strategy being employed by DA to make agricultural products more accessible and affordable to the public, while providing a guaranteed market to local farmers.

“In just a matter of five months, the KADIWA market had already generated almost ₱30 million sales and it had doubled the amount by linking the farmers to the institutional markets regionwide,” Famoso said.

He hopes that more private companies in the region will tie-up with DA to replicate this marketing venture.

Tubungan Bayanihan Tipon Center (BTC), Alimodian BTC, and the Kooperatiba Naton Multipurpose Cooperative of Brgy. Buyuan, Tigbsuan will be the regular farmer group-exhibitors in the said KADIWA market.

On the opening day of the exhibit, Tubungan BTC generated ₱16,587.00 while the Kooperatiba Naton MPC had ₱7,000.00 in gross sales.

A former DA Regional Executive Director Larry P. Nacionales said that farmers joining the KADIWA market are producers of good quality agricultural products from Leon, Alimodian, Tubungan, Tigbauan, and San Joaquin. (AMPSusbilla/Photos by JVDeGuzman/DA-RAFIS 6)