TINOC, Ifugao – In a bid to synchronize data on tomato production and marketing of farmers in Tinoc, Ifugao, the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office-Cordillera convened a consultation with the farmers, provincial and municipal governments recently.
Over the years, the oversupply of vegetables has been the main problem in the agriculture sector that the government and farmers continue to address.
In the municipality of Tinoc, farmers began planting tomatoes between 2009 and 2010 with American tomato and Marimar varieties. Sweet potato, garden pea, bell pepper, cabbage, and Chinese cabbage were the crops they produced prior to planting tomatoes. When they realized that they earned a lot more than the other crops, they decided to make tomatoes their main product until now, as well, they have expanded their agricultural area.
To gather situational information regarding their tomato production and marketing system, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division Senior Agriculturist Leonor Verzola facilitated a focused group discussion among farmer leaders and local government staff.
During the consultation, farmers specified that their planting season is between January and March, while their harvest or peak period is between May and August. Most of their production is directed to the Nueva Vizcaya Agricultural Terminal, Inc. and approximately 2% to Benguet Agri Pinoy Trading Center or Hangar Market in Baguio City. They added that from one cropping, they may harvest up to 18 times with an interval of 4-5 days. In addition, based on their experience with selling prices, the lowest price is 3.00/kg. whereas the highest price is 109/kg.
In order to pay their net expenses, they suggested that prices should go from P15 to P20/kg and P12/kg for big type and medium type respectively.
Key production and marketing issues they identified included changing weather conditions, pest and disease occurrence, and fluctuating vegetable prices.
To address these problems, DA-CAR Field Operations Division Chief Virginia Tapat encouraged them, including the local government, to strengthen their farmers cooperatives and associations (FCAs) as the agency’s priority beneficiaries focused on a group rather than individual farmers. “DA will help those who are willing to help themselves because it is best to deal with active organizations rather than individual farmers. It will start with strengthening organizations because what we are doing now should be a collective effort,” she reiterated.
Meanwhile, Municipal Agriculturist Pedring P. Manghi stated that to strengthen the FCAs, further consultation with farmers will be undertaken as soon as possible to identify potential farmers who are ready and can make a real commitment to be part of the organization or cooperative. “Let us help one another so that over time you can see the impact of all these plans and recommendations,” he said.
Moreover, Benjamin Lunag Jr., Provincial Agriculture Environment and Natural Resources Office representative committed to provide technical assistance to farmers if they are ready for training and that the province will coordinate with potential direct market linkages. By LDMendoza and JBPeralta