MHFA and LGU Talakag, Bukidnon thru President Ryan Danio and Administrator Bigcas, respectively, receive their certificates of award from DA under its Enhanced Kadiwa Inclusive Food Supply Chain program, in the presence of PCOO Sec. Andanar, DA ASec. Evangelista, DA-10 RTD Madriaga and 4ID Commander Centino.
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Miarayon Highland Farmers Association (MHFA) and the local government of Talakag, Bukidnon received their certificate of awards from the Department of Agriculture under the enhanced kadiwa inclusive food supply chain program on Monday, December 7.
PCOO Secretary Martin M. Andanar turned over the certificate of award to MHFA President Ryan A. Danio for the P1 million grant in support to packing house facility (working capital and equipment) and to LGU Talakag, represented by Administrator Alberto Bigcas received P14 million for the establishment of regional food terminal project, during the RTF-ELCAC meeting in Cagayan de Oro.
Assisting him during the turnover were DA Asst. Sec. for Agribusiness and Marketing Kristine Y. Evangelista, Department of Agriculture 10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga and 4th Infantry Division Commander MGen Andres C. Centino.
The program, “Enhanced Kadiwa Financial Grant” aims to provide cooperatives additional capital to purchase supplies and equipment and help them sell their produce directly to consumers.
The grant includes vegetable crates, packing equipment, delivery truck, and revolving fund as assemblers or consolidators of fresh produce.
DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga said, the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita program was expanded to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness by capacitating the farmers and fisherfolk cooperatives, associations to become reliable and efficient food commodity suppliers.
The Kadiwa is one of the main programs of DA under the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) facilitating the market linkage of agri producers to consumers including institutional buyers.
The program also minimizes layers of traders making fresh produce affordable.
Through the grant, cooperatives are capacitated to take on more roles in the food supply chain thus, increasing their income.
According to Danio, their association delivers 3-5 tons of assorted high value vegetables to Bulua Market in CdeO every week, which are then supplied to Luzon, Visayas and to some areas in Mindanao.
The MHFA has 25 active members tilling more than 60 hectares of land in barangay Miarayon and a beneficiary of several DA projects.
Bigcas shared, LGU Talakag will manage the regional food terminal which will be established in a 1 hectare area in barangay Miarayon, where the farm is situated.
“High value crops is available in Talakag. You can directly buy to the farmers to benefit and help them too. We have the potential to produce more, whole year round,” Bigcas concluded.# (ATCabig/Photos Supplied)