The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources – Central Luzon (BFAR-3) is planning to expand the marketing of products being produced by farmers and fisherfolk through the conduct of more trade fairs dubbed as “Kadiwa” in the region.
Following the success of the Kadiwa trade fair in Capas, Tarlac last Monday, BFAR-3 Regional Director Wilfredo Cruz cited the need of putting up more Kadiwa stores where organic and fresh farm and fish produce can be bought by consumers at lower prices and at the same time help farmers and fishers earn more income.
Cruz said the plan aims to resolve the problem not only on food availability and accessibility but also on the affordability of the products.
“Kailangan natin magbukas ng mga bagong merkado para sa ating mga mangingisda at magsasaka. Sa pamamagitan ng Kadiwa ay nababawasan natin yung tinatawag na marketing channel (We need to open more new markets for our fishers and farmers. Through Kadiwa, we are able to reduce what we called marketing channel),” he said in an interview on Wednesday by the regional news network CLTV 36.
During the Kadiwa trade fair in Tarlac, he said fisherfolk from Bataan brought their famous processed fish such as tinapa (smoked fish), daing (dried fish) and sardines.
Fresh tuna from Aurora province and organic fruits and vegetables from Capas, Tarlac were also available, he added.
Roda Briones, a farmer from Tarlac, said they earned more in the Kadiwa trade fair because they sold their produce directly to the consumers and without a middle person.
“Mas malaki ang kinita naming magsasaka dahil wala nang ahente at diretso po kami sa mamimili at yung mamimili ay fresh yung makukuha sa amin (We, the farmers, earned more because there was no agent and we sold directly to the buyers and the consumers got fresh produce from us),” Briones said.
Meanwhile, Cruz said BFAR, through the Tarlac Provincial Fisheries Office, is coordinating with the Municipal Cooperative Development Office on the request of fishers and farmers to conduct the Kadiwa trade fair on a weekly basis. (PNA)
