In an aim to help the MSMEs in Isabela to market their products, DOST partnered with DA-CVRC thru their KADIWA ni Ani at Kita rolling stores.

The combined DA’s Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita and DOST’s SETUP-assisted products seeks to bring a variety of affordable basic commodities — from vegetables, fruits, fish, chicken, to sardines, canned meat products, to laundry detergents, among others — closer to rural families affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“Layunin nito na mas maparami ang mga produkto na kasama sa mga itinitinda sa iba’t ibang outlets ng Kadiwa. Dahil po sa partnership na ito, isasama na po natin ang ilang mga discounted manufactured products,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said.

Assistant Secretary Kristine Evangelista explained that the initiative aims to provide cities and municipalities food supplies, based on the specific food requirement and volume as identified by the LGUs.

“This strategy will minimize human interaction and the possibility of spreading the corona virus,” she added.

The Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita rolling store aims to serve as a ‘mini’ grocery that will sell agri-fishery and canned and processed products, and other basic necessities at cheaper rates than the suggested retail prices — as it eliminates middlemen by directly linking farmers and food manufacturers to consumers.

PSTD Marcelo Miguel welcomed the DA-DOST partnership calling it a ‘critical intervention’ after the limitation to access the Public Markets due to the pandemic was implemented.