DA-7 helps farmers in selling products

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Agriculture (DA)-7 has installed new agri-carts at the Kadiwa Farmers Market at the South Road Properties for farmers selling agricultural products.

DA-7’s Market Development Section Chief Dave Amrinto said the agri-cart will improve the ambiance and environment of the display area in order to attract more buyers.

“There’s a need to make the display area inside the farmers market so it can attract attention from the people and commuters passing along the South Road Properties (SRP),” said Amrinto, in a statement.

The Kadiwa farmers market which was launched last August 6 has 10 fruits and vegetables farmers and three ornamental growers from Cebu City that are currently displaying at the Kadiwa farmers market.

The project, which is a partnership along with Il Corso-Filinvest and the Cebu City government, is open every Thursday to Sunday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. where consumers can buy affordable and fresh agricultural products directly from Cebu City’s farmers.

Meanwhile, the Tabuelan Farmers Federation which is composed of 20 farmers associations in Tabuelan, Cebu will soon have additional income.

This, after DA-7’s Expanded Livestock and Poultry Production and Livelihood Project for COVID-19 Response has delivered and turned over to each association 50 pullets and 10 cockerels of upgraded free-range chickens with two sacks of feeds.

Dr. Zeam Voltaire Amper, DA-7 livestock program coordinator, said this project aims to enable the farmer household beneficiaries to produce their own food and have the opportunity to raise additional income for their family.

“We want also to ensure meat and egg availability, accessibility and affordability, especially this time of pandemic, hence we have this type of project,” Amper said, adding a breed can reach 1.8kgs in 90 days (3 months) and can lay 260-280 eggs in year given with good nutrition.

DA-7 Regional Executive Director Atty. Salvador Diputado said that farmers who are members of the association are all registered with the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA).

Diputado said the agency continues to campaign for the farmers to register with RSBSA considering that this is now part of the requirement in providing agricultural assistance. — GAN (FREEMAN)