Highland farmers are assured of guaranteed market for their produce as the Department of Agriculture facilitates farmer’s access through the Kadiwa’s Veggie Connect and other market linkage programs.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the DA will extend market support to close to 100 farmers to prevent potential food wastage and provide consumers access to cheaper food.
“A total 163,189 kilograms [of vegetables] were sold and will be sold until Jan. 26, 2024, assisting 93 farmers from the provinces of Mt. Province, Benguet and Ifugao,” said DA-Cordillena Administrative Region officer-in-charge Jennilyn Dawayan.
“We will continue to provide Kadiwa services to farmers as may be needed,” she added.
Dawayan said the Kadiwa Veggie Connect started as a collaboration with the Cordillera Association of Regional Executives to help DA monitor vegetable supply and amount of unsold vegetables, particularly cabbages and Chinese cabbage whose prices have fallen due to a supply glut.
The national government offices in Baguio City and neighboring areas bought unsold vegetables from various trading posts totaling 11 tons between Jan. 5 and 6.
From Jan. 8 to 14, farmers sold 44 tons, followed by 105.6 tons a week later at prices ranging from P10 to P15 per kilo.
Some vegetable farmers in the Cordilleras usually opt to dump older inventory to prevent prices of vegetables from falling further when new harvests arrive at trading posts.
“It’s our goal to make agriculture a profitable venture for millions of farmers, fishermen and others in the value chain. By helping them bring their products directly to market, we’re not only helping agriculture workers and entrepreneurs but providing consumers access to lower-priced food products,” Tiu Laurel said.
The DA intends to replicate the program in other parts of the country spanning other agricultural products, including poultry, livestock, fish and high value crops.