Four Kadiwa markets in Bacolod rake ₱3.9M

Four Negrense Kadiwa marketing schemes are now functioning in Bacolod City and had so far generated cumulative sales of ₱3.9 million, according to Negros Occidental Provincial Agriculturist Atty. Japhet Masculino.

The Negrense Kadiwa kicked off on April 1 as one of the government’s initiatives to capacitate both the food producers and consumers amid the stringent quarantine measures to prevent COVID-19 transmission.

Initially, the Negrense Kadiwa operates in the pioneer physical store in Negros Food Terminal (Pala-Pala) and through online service delivery by partnering with several rider companies in the metro. It had recently branched out to another three more market outlets located in Ayala Malls Capitol Central, in Brgy. Alijis and Petron Redemptorist.

On July 24, the DA and Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) of Negros Occidental tapped the Federation of Multi-Sectoral Alliance for Development (MUAD) to further amplify the operations of Kadiwa markets in Bacolod City.

“We in the provincial government recognize the need for a complete value chain for agricultural products from production to marketing. MUAD, with long experience in marketing farmers’ produce, is helping us in expanding Kadiwa [markets],” added Masculino.

The Provincial Government of Negros Occidental had provided ₱2.5 million financial assistance to MUAD who took over the project management.

“On top of the financing support we turned over to the NGO, we have also provided more than ₱600,000.00-worth of marketing equipment and accessories in support to Kadiwa operations,” he shared.

Marketing equipment includes plastic crates, plastic pallet matting, digital weighing scale, warehouse storage racks, display racks, chiller, chest freezer, and plastic baskets.

“COVID-19 does not only bring havoc to the country but also opens new opportunities and future to the agriculture sector,” said Engr. Albert Barrogo, engineering division chief of DA.

MUAD will soon open four additional markets particularly in the different Petron gas stations — Petron Mansilingan, Vista Alegre, St. Jude, and Pure Gold — in Bacolod City.

“The Negrense Kadiwa has been serving an average of 56 households daily and helping more than 4,600 farmers in the province,” Barrogo added.

Furthermore, the DA Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) will provide ₱150,000.00 financial assistance to three Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita suppliers and producers in Negros Occidental this year.

Rhea Cristina Resol of AMAD said that OPA Negros Occidental will determine the recipients.

“Next year, another ₱2-million worth of the delivery truck and ₱2 million financial assistance will be provided to Farmers Cooperative and Associations involved in Kadiwa markets in the province,” she added. (Sheila Mae Toreno/DA-RAFIS 6/ Photos by Engr. Albert Barrogo)