BY MARCHEL P. ESPINA
The four Negrense Kadiwa markets in Bacolod City have generated P3.9 million in sales, Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino said yesterday.
The Negrense Kadiwa market initiative kicked off on April 1 to capacitate food producers and consumers amid the stringent quarantine measures implemented to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
The first Kadiwa market operated at the Negros Food Terminal, and catered to online service delivery through rider companies. Other outlets are in Ayala Malls Capitol Central, Barangay Alijis, and at Petron Redemptorist.
On July 24, the DA and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist of Negros Occidental tapped the Federation of Multi-Sectoral Alliance for Development (MUAD) to further amplify the operations of Kadiwa markets in Bacolod City.
“The provincial government recognizes 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,” Masculino said.
The provincial government had provided P2.5 million in financial assistance to MUAD which took over the management of the project.
“On top of the financing support we turned over to the non-government organization, we have also provided more than P600,000-worth of marketing equipment and accessories in support to Kadiwa operations,” Masculino said.
Marketing equipment included plastic crates, plastic pallet matting, digital weighing scale, warehouse storage racks, display racks, chiller, chest freezer, and plastic baskets, he added.
MUAD will soon open four additional markets at Petron gas stations in Bacolod City.
Engr. Albert Barrogo, engineering division chief of DA Region 6, said the Negrense Kadiwa has been serving an average of 56 households daily and helping more than 4,600 farmers in the province.*
