As the Philippines entered the third week of lockdown, the Department of Agriculture (DA) partnered with an online shopping website to allow consumers to order farm products online and have these delivered to their doorsteps.

The e-commerce platform, dubbed “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Express,” displays freshly harvested fruits and vegetables that are available for purchase in Metro Manila homes during the enhanced community quarantine that is scheduled to last until April 12.

“Kadiwa is a market system which sells major agricultural goods at reasonably low prices to help poor Filipino households. Kadiwa is loosely translated as “one idea, one thought” which is in consonance with the Secretary’s (William Dar) “New Thinking” for Agriculture paradigm,” the Agriculture department explained in its official website.

It can be accessed directly using mobile phones or other electronic devices through the link https://homegrown-organics.myshopify.com/.

Launched on September 2019, the “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita” is a collaborative project of the Department of Agriculture, Department of Interior and Local Government, and a Government-Owned and Controlled Corporation (GOCC) named Food Terminal Inc. (FTI).

DA has also established “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita” physical stalls in different parts of the National Capital Region to provide more opportunities for the public to buy low-priced agricultural products. The pop-up markets are open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

“We want to provide the public as many options possible to access affordable and nutritious food. The DA offices shall be ready to accommodate buyers but they should, of course, follow the quarantine guidelines and physical distancing procedures,” Secretary Dar said.

President Rodrigo Duterte placed the entire Luzon under enhanced community quarantine on March 16, restricting the movement of almost 50 million people to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The government has yet to announce whether it would extend the lockdown following the increase in number of cases of Coronavirus-Disease 2019 (COVID-19), totaling to more than 3,000 as of April 6.

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