The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources-Cordillera launched the Kadiwa Fish on Wheels in Ifugao.
Following the Department of Agriculture’s Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita that brings affordable agricultural products to the communities, BFAR brought 700 kilos of fishery products from Dagupan and Sual in Pangasinan to Lamut, Asipulo, and Lagawe.
BFAR-Cordillera Chief of Fisheries Post-harvest and Marketing Section Precila Maramba said the initiative aims to help small-scale farmersdistribute their products.
She added they brought the aquatic products to the pro-vince due to the consumers’ request.
“We do not compete with the market. Our products’ prices are lower than the price of the market,” Maramba added.
Among the pro-ducts sold were ba-ngus, which were priced at P145 per kilo, galunggong for P200 per kilo, pampano for P300 per kilo, and other frozen fish products whose prices are lower than the ones sold in the market.
“This is the concept of Kadiwa. Lower price ang bentahan because we go directly from the farmers to the market,” she said.
She encouraged the community to support the project by buying the products, which are good qua-lity and are sold at an affordable price.
Brenda Lumaho, one of the customers, said she supports the program because she seldom buys fishery products at an affordable price.
Hermina Beli-ngon, who bought fishery products worth P1,500, suggested for the Department of Agriculture or Provincial Agriculture and Environment and Natural Resources to announce earlier when they will conduct the Kadiwa Fish on Wheels for wider information dissemination among the residents.
The Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita started in 2019, aiming to help small-scale producers raise their profits through direct buying and selling and farm-to-market schemes.
The BFAR brid-ges the farmers and consumers through the Kadiwa Fish on Wheels that also affects the value chain flow by cutting the middle men. – Judelyn B. Batcagan
