December 10, 2020– Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program beneficiaries from 11 farmers’ associations (FA) earned Php 51,732 during the “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita, Locally Sourced: A Gardening & Fresh Local Produce Fair” organized by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 8 on November 27-30, 2020 in Tacloban City.

The FAs applied their skills in selling and marketing as they displayed their products at the Exhibit Area in Robinson’s North Tacloban. They were assisted by the SAAD Program implementers in the region and participating provinces – Eastern Samar, Samar, Leyte, and Southern Leyte.

Present were Randy Dacome of the Maragondong Farmers’ Association (Dagami, Leyte); Maricel Verona and Rubilyn Dazo from the Integrated Farmers’ Association of Calsadahay (Dagami, Leyte); Bernadeth Verian and Vilma Caimber from Hinulogan Farmers’ Association (Dagami, Leyte); and  Analita Garcila from Cambucao Farmers’ Association (Tabon-tabon, Leyte).

Kadiwa Fair Sales

The SAAD FAs sold 169 trays of fresh chicken eggs, which were produced by Capinyahan Farmers’ Association (San Isidro, Leyte), Dapdap Badiang Farmers’ and Fisherfolks’ Association (Capoocan, Leyte), Cantongtong United Youth Association (Jiabong, Samar), and Brgy. Alang-alang Organic Farmers’ Association (Quinapondan, Eastern Samar).

Seven (7) trays of fresh duck eggs and 42.5 trays of salted eggs were supplied by Maragondong Farmers’ Association and Dao Integrated Farmers’ Association (Bontoc, Southern Leyte).

A total of 80 kg of sweet corn were sold by Balingasag Farmers’ Association (Dagami, Leyte) and Cambucao Farmers’ Association (Tabontabon, Leyte).

Thirty-two (32) pieces (pcs) of upo, 11 kilograms (kg) of eggplant, 15 pcs of string beans, and 10 kg of snap beans were sold by the Balugo Farmers’ Association (Capoocan, Leyte), Bulod Integrated Farmers’ Association (Sta. Fe, Leyte), and Cogon Integrated Farmers’ Association (Alangalang, Leyte).

Part of the implementing guidelines of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program is to assist the beneficiaries to establish communal agri-enterprises to help alleviate poverty in the areas it operates.

In line with this, beneficiaries of the program have participated in the 4-day Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita hosted by the DA RFO 8 Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) with the goal to bridge the gap between the farmers and the consumers. ###

Table 1. KADIWA ni Ani at Kita Locally Sourced: A Gardening & Fresh Local Produce Fair November 27-30, 2020

Writer:               Bethzaida Genesis F. Girang, Marketing Officer- DA SAAD Region 8
Copy-editor:     Natalianne Marie O. Delos Reyes, PR and Comms Officer- SAAD NPMO