DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) -- Farmers in Negros Oriental had another opportunity to sell their produce directly to consumers after the Department of Agriculture (DA) rolled out a Kadiwa ng Pangulo Agri-Fair in this city. 

Josephe Remorca, president of the Kapinyahan Farmers’ Association in Amlan town, was one of the farmers who joined the Kadiwa.

Since the agri-fair opened, their group already earned almost P8,000.

“Ganinang buntag hangtod karon na oras naa na almost almost P8,000 (ang ginansya). Ang labing maayo nga ang tanang mag-uuma gikan sa ilahang mga umahan makabaligya pod sila dire ingon ani sa Kadiwa ng Pangulo,” Remorca said.

(Since this morning, we were able to earn almost P8,000. This is a good opportunity for us and I wish all farmers can participate in the Kadiwa and sell their produce directly from their farms.) 

She hopes the Kadiwa will be sustained so that more farmers will have the opportunity to sell their produce directly to the buyers.

Remorca was one of the 25 exhibitors composed of farmers’ associations and various groups supported by DA who sold vegetables, fruits, fish, and processed food items at affordable prices during the one-day event held in front of the Capitol on Feb. 15.

Proper pricing

The Kadiwa ng Pangulo Agri-Fair benefits not only the consumers who get to buy fresh agricultural produce at affordable prices, but the farmers as well since they can impose proper pricing and earn extra profit. 

“Barato gud nis tanan kay nawala naman dinhi ang middle man. Usa ni ka marketing strategy o marketing platform na tagaan nato og kahigayunan ang atong mga mag-uuma na makabaligya diretso sa mga konsyumedro,” said Alejandro Rafal, DA provincial agriculture technology coordinating office provincial officer. 

(All products are sold at affordable prices because it won’t pass through a middleman. This is a form of marketing strategy or marketing platform where we provide an opportunity for our farmers to sell their products directly to the consumer.)

Exhibitors also received P400 cash allowance from the Department of Labor and Employment under its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program.

Quality rice

During the agri-fair, the National Food Authority (NFA) also sold rice at P25 per kilo. 

NFA rice was newly-milled and produced by local farmers. 

“I’m proud to say that this is locally procured from our farmers. Galing ng Mabinay, Bais City, Guihulngan City, at Bayawan City. Bagong giling ang bigas na binebenta natin ngayon,” said NFA Negros Oriental Branch Manager Benilda Fidel. 

(These came from Mabinay, Bais City, Guihulngan City, and Bayawan City. The rice we are selling are also newly-milled.)

Fidel said their main office authorized them to sell NFA rice for one day only in support of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo even though it is no longer within their mandate to sell rice.

She explained that the agency is now focused on palay procurement from local farmers for buffer stocking of rice in times of calamities.

Convergence strategy

The Kadiwa ng Pangulo is a convergence strategy between DA and its partner agencies, namely the Department of Trade and Industry, Department of the Interior and Local Government, DOLE, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Negros Oriental provincial government. 

Rafal said that aside from providing livelihood opportunities, the agri-fair is a fulfillment of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. 's promise to provide affordable food for Filipinos.

The Kadiwa is in line with DILG Memorandum Circular 2024-004 signed by Sec. Benhur Abalos who directed local government units to hold their own agri-fair every 15th and 30th of the month. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)