THE Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas is upbeat to help farmers and consumers in Negros Occidental amid the ongoing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic through the establishment of "Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita" market, its top official said.
DA-Western Visayas Director Remelyn Recoter, in a statement, said they expect that this mode of marketing will help local farmers sell their produce.
"For the community under quarantine, they can still buy fresh farm produce," she added.
Dubbed "Negrense Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita," the market in the province was opened at the Organic Trading Post lodge within the Provincial Food Terminal (old pala-pala) in Bacolod City Thursday, April 2.
The activity was led by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson and Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino.
Items available at the market include assorted vegetables, processed agricultural products, organic and regular rice, chicken and honey, among others.
This is open for walk-in clients from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
For home delivery, on the other hand, it can cater to consumers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The regional line agency earlier said they partnered with various delivery companies for this marketing initiative.
Aside from Grab, consumers can also use other delivery options such as Maid in Bacolod, Tapao.ph Delivery, Juan Ride and Tinderoo.
Recoter said farmers produce in "Kadiwa" will be featured in the application of these food delivery service providers for consumers to choose and buy from.
"DA-Western Visayas will facilitate the delivery of surplus products from other provinces and will likewise issue Food Lane Vehicle Pass and Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) Identification (ID) cards to partner riders," she added.
Under the project, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) will provide staff to manage the "Kadiwa" operations and establish system on financial management and record keeping.
They will also check and monitor the marketing price of agriculture produce on a daily basis.
DA-Western Visayas team leader for Negros Occidental Engineer Jose Albert Barrogo, who was also at the opening, said the five delivery partners will order products to "Kadiwa" using their respective online applications.
Then, the market personnel will immediately prepare the orders placed before the arrival of the rider or delivery partner, Barrogo, also the chief of the Regional Agricultural Engineering Division, said.
"Before the riders deliver the products to customers, they have to settle the payment first to Kadiwa personnel," he added.
The "Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita" is being rolled out across the country which directly links the farmers and fisherfolk to the consumers.
Aside from the province's trading post, it also be established at May's Organic Garden and Restaurant at Barangay Pahanocoy, also in Bacolod City.