THE Department of Agriculture (DA), through its Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Program, has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with listed firm, AgriNurture Inc. (ANI) to allow its portal to be an anchor online merchant of agricultural and fishery products on the government-led e-commerce site eKadiwa.da.gov.ph.
Under the agreement, ANI will be allowed to sell vegetables, rice and fruits at their suggested retail prices (SRPs).
ANI’s e-commerce portal, aniexpress.1ani.com.ph offers a wide range of products including plant- based substitutes enabled with electronic payment options for the convenience of buyers and logistics partners.
“The official program partner-participant shall use or follow the SRPs issued by the DA and other government authorities, in the retail sales of covered agricultural and fishery products, such as but not limited to price freeze orders by government Authorities,” the MOA said.
However, the MOA noted that the cost of logistics or delivery services for orders of agricultural and fishery products on the e-Kadiwa online portal shall be separate from the SRP, unless offered as free service by the official program partner-participant seller, which in this case is ANI, its logistics or delivery service provider.
Meanwhile, payment for the sale of agricultural products shall be done directly to the official program partner-participant online seller, or logistics or delivery service provider.
DA said 12,000 farmers benefit from its new online program which it had activated to help the agricultural sector and consumers cope with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The agency said a similar agreement is also being made with Zagana Inc., Benjabi Ventures Corp. and Mober Inc., as transport and delivery service providers Lalamove and Grab also signifying interests to be part of the program.
