The Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) thru OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado is all out in its effort to help local farmers get by the nationwide implementation of the community quarantine by profitably disposing their farm produce.

As part of the agency’s effort in reaching out to farmer-groups in Cagayan de Oro, DA-10 drives its Kadiwa on Wheels to barangay Canitoan, Wednesday, April 15, 2020.

In coordination with the City Government of CdeO, the agency aided local farmers affected by the quarantine.

“This program of DA helps farmers like us to survive the quarantine. Our members were able to sell their products and earn decently. We are hopeful this activity can be done not just once here in our place,” Lucas Faborada, Canitoan Farmers Cooperative (CAFAMCO) President said.

Home to 33,000 inhabitants, Canitoan is one of the largest barangays in the city. The residents have purchased cheap, fresh and nutritious farm produce such as vegetables and fruits, fish and chicken through Kadiwa.

“DA’s initiative is very helpful to our residents. The products sold are affordable that helped them save their money, especially many are temporarily unemployed. Moreso, they are kept safe from congestion in the local market,” Canitoan Chair, Joshua Taboclaon said.

Seeing how beneficial the project, the barangay chair will be working on another edition of the Kadiwa on Wheels in his barangay for the benefit of the relocated residents in Calaanan.

RED Collado added that DA’s Kadiwa is an avenue for the farmers to sell their products without going through middlemen, aside from its logistics support.

“What we did in our barangay, we encouraged our local farmers to display and sell their products during the Kadiwa. In fact, CAFAMCO is exclusively allowed to sell their vegetable produce today,” said Marley Lagumen, the Council’s Chair of the Committee on Agriculture in Canitoan.

“DA’s Kadiwa is beneficial not only to our residents in this trying times, but to the farmers foremost,” Lagumen added.

DA’s attached agencies such as the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), National Dairy Authority (NDA) and Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) also joined DA’s Kadiwa on Wheels in said barangay.

To ensure fruits and vegetables are safe for consumption, the BPI-Satellite Pesticide Analytical Laboratory collected samples for pesticide residue analysis.

DA-10 Kadiwa on Wheels will be in barangays Macasandig and Indahag on April 16, 2020.#