By Veronica Corral
Two years ago, the Department of Agriculture (DA) launched the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita program designed to establish the market for farmers and fishers in the country.
Since then, the program continues to serve market lineage as the heart of its service that eases Filipino farmers’ struggles on marketing and selling harvested products at unreasonable low prices.
Chona Tubong, a farmer from Quezon City and a Kadiwa member, shared her journey on how the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita changed their lives.
“Nung dumating si Kadiwa, naibebenta na namin nang maganda ang aming produkto. Naano [nakukuha]namin ‘yung tamang price. Kasi kapag ang kumuha sa amin ang mga negosyante, talagang sobrang baba ang kuha nila sa amin tapos ibebenta naman nila ng sobrang mahal… ‘Yun ang kagandahan, kaya naiangat namin ‘yung aming pamumuhay,” Tubong said.
“Iyong mga training nila sa ATI [Agricultural Training Institute] sa agriculture, doon ko po na-improve lahat. Kung paano magkaroon ng halaga ‘yung iyong produkto, ‘yung iyong itinatanim mula roon sa farm,” she added.
Aside from marketing, the training also taught her how to process, improve, and develop their old products into something new to sell to the public.
“Higit pa roon, natuturuan nila kami kung paano namin i-process ‘yung aming mga produkto… Kagaya po, dati ‘yung cassava namin, basta cassava lang, isuman mo lang. Ngayon pala marami kaming natutunan dahil sa training na ibinibigay ng Department of Agriculture,” the Kadiwa member said.
According to Tubong, the convenience they are experiencing from the program also extends to the Filipino consumers as they are able to buy fresh and affordable market products near their area.
“Iyong mga suki po namin na namimili rito, siyempre talagang natutuwa sila na nag-allot ang gobyerno ng Kadiwa na dalahin sa kanila ‘yung mura na produkto namin. Bukod sa mura, fresh pa at talagang mababa kumpara roon sa palengke,” she said. – ag
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