CITY OF SAN FERNANDO Aeta farmers in Pampanga are getting assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA in Central Luzon via Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD of the agency.

The DA has established a direct link between Aeta farmers from Floridablanca town and Dizon Farms through market matching, a process where products are matched with market segments that are most likely to purchase them and aims to increase the income of farmers and lower prices for buyers.

Among the organic produce of the Aeta farmers are ginger, gabi (taro), ube (purple yam), guyabano, camote (sweet potato), bananas and other upland crops.

According to Dizon Farms purchasing manager Joseph Viernesto, Jr., they want to help the Aeta farmers by purchasing their produce and at the same time, to avoid having an over-supply of agricultural products.

“We want to help the Aetas wherein we can directly get their products. This is also to help them program their products to avoid over supply in the markets),” he said.

To which Floridablanca Aeta Ancestral Domain Incorporated President Ric Guiao, said the project could help them earn a steady income with the assistance of DA and private entities like Dizon Farms..

“This a good step because there will be a continuing cooperation. I hope this will also help in the development of our area),” he said.

The DA added that another way of market matching is through the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita program which enables farmers as well as fishermen to sell their produce directly to the market and become suppliers of institutional buyers.

Yesterday, January 30, the DA rolled out Kadiwa on Wheels at the Pampanga provincial capitol in Barangay Sto. Niño and will be launched at the Aspire Prime Residences in Barangay Dela Paz Norte on February 1.