CdeO City, April 30 – The Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in Northern Mindanao converged to provide a wider array of agri-fishery products, basic necessities and other prime commodities thru the rollout of its Kadiwa at Diskwento Karavan (KDK), in DA-10’s parking area.

Integrating DA’s Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita and DTI’s Diskwento Caravan, KDK is a beefed-up marketing initiative, which brings diverse and reasonably priced essential commodities closer to the abodes of Kagay-anons amid the COVID-19 pandemic-prompted community quarantine.

“We have laid out this to help our consumers to have easier access to a one-stop shop offering much needed fresh produce and manufactured goods closer to their homes and decongest major public markets,” Carlota S. Madriaga, DA-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-10) regional technical director for operations shared.

“Affordability is also a key feature in the items that are being sold in the KDK. Also as establishments were advised to run at reduced capacity for the time being, this is a big help for our consumers, who are trying to get by during this health crisis,” the assistant DA exec said.

The KDK is a marketing platform where agri-fishery and other food products as well as basic goods are being sold at cheaper rates, as trading layers are removed through the joint efforts of the involved agencies to straightly link farmers and manufacturers to buyers.

“We equally value the safety of our personnel, suppliers and consumers. Proper physical distancing and wearing of face masks are being imposed, at the same time, we encourage shoppers to bring along with them their eco-friendly bags and grocery list,” Madriaga elaborated, saying the latter will prevent them from lingering longer in the market.

Further adding, that all the cited measures and the selection of benefitting barangays are undertaken in close coordination with the Agricultural Productivity Office under the city government of Cagayan de Oro and different barangay officials.

Exhibitors included in the kick-off are Canitoan Farmer’s Cooperative, Miarayon Talakag Highland Farmers Association, Farmgrown Association of Claveria, San Miguel, Oyster Mushroom, Municipal Agriculture’s Office of Claveria, CNQ Agriventures, Barra Agro Industrial Multi-Purpose Cooperative, True Chef’s Choice, Inc., Great Grand Intention Foundation, Inc., Ginama and private individual seller, Imee Poklawan.

KDK is set to serve more barangays of CdeO in the upcoming days.#