For Baguio City and Benguet residents to have continuing access to quality, safe, and affordable agri-fishery products, the Bureau of Plant Industry in Baguio City has started to manage the present KADIWA center within the compound.
Baguio National Crop Research and Development Center Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BNCRDC-MPC) Cooperative Manager Erlinda Jimenez explained the move of the bureau is to be able to efficiently administer the daily operations of the center through the employee’s cooperative of BPI.
“The management of the KADIWA center will be under the BNCRDC-MPC that will continue to showcase prime commodities like high value crops produced by the Farmers Cooperatives and Associations,” Jimenez said.
The present KADIWA center which opened in 2024 is a marketing initiative of the Department of Agriculture (DA) which seeks to empower the farming community by providing a direct and effective farm-to-consumer food supply chain.
The model eliminates as many marketing layers, allowing producers to earn bigger from directly selling their produce instead of using trader-intermediaries. It reduces marketing expenses, thus making the fresh and quality products more affordable for consumers.
“Our arrangement with the FCAs particularly on highly perishable goods will be on a consignment basis. Agricultural products brought to the KADIWA center by the FCAs will be replenished by the FCAs to ensure the quality of the products,” Jimenez added.
The KADIWA center was initially managed by the FCAs who supplies the center with their agricultural products particularly assorted vegetables, eggs, rice, and fish among others, prior to being under the management of the BNCRDC-MPC or the multi-purpose cooperative of the employees of BPI. By JTLlanes
