“Ang mga farmers natin naghihirap… Let’s support them”: Prov’l Agriculturist Aowat urges public to buy Kalinga local produce at Kadiwa

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Provincial Agriculturist Nancy O. Aowat appealed to the public to support Kalinga farmers by buying their products at the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, saying that every purchase helps sustain the livelihood of farmers who continue to face hardships.

Speaking during the Provincial Government of Kalinga's flag-raising ceremony on Monday, August 3, Aowat announced that the Kadiwa ng Pangulo will now be held twice a month following Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum Circular No. 2024-003, giving local farmers more opportunities to market their produce directly to consumers.

Kadiwa ng Pangulo is a government market linkage program that connects farmers and producers directly with consumers, helping lower food prices while increasing farmers' earnings by eliminating middlemen.

"May I just announce that pursuant to DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2024-003, all LGUs are mandated to conduct their Kadiwa ng Pangulo twice a month. We have been conducting this previously once a month, but we have received a notice that it will now be conducted twice a month," Aowat said.

She emphasized that supporting farmers does not always require large government interventions, noting that simply purchasing locally grown products can make a meaningful difference in improving farmers' income and encouraging them to continue farming.

Aowat then urged Provincial Government employees and the public to visit the Kadiwa stalls and patronize products grown and produced by Kalinga farmers.

"So, may I request employees and all who are here to please visit our stalls in front of the gym and buy the products of our farmers. In a way, let's support them because our farmers are suffering now. Please patronize our local products," she said.

Aowat thanks partners for successful mechanization roadshow

During the same program, Aowat also expressed her gratitude to the Provincial Government of Kalinga, partner agencies, and stakeholders for the successful staging of the first-ever Cordillera Mechanization Roadshow in Kalinga held from July 28 to 29.

The two-day event featured modern agricultural machinery and technologies from Korean companies and gave farmers from Kalinga and Apayao the opportunity to learn about innovations that could improve farm productivity and efficiency.

Aowat acknowledged the support of the Provincial Government headed by Governor James S. Edduba, the Philippine National Police (PNP), Kalinga State University (KSU), various government offices, the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG), and other partners who contributed to the planning and implementation of the activity.

She said the successful conduct of the roadshow highlighted the importance of collaboration in bringing agricultural programs and technologies closer to farmers.

Quoting Helen Keller, Aowat concluded, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much," underscoring the value of teamwork in advancing the province's agricultural development.