Support in agricultural inputs, tools and machinery, and a market for produced crops – these are the main benefits of clustered farming guaranteed by the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte (PGIN) through the Office of Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg).
According to Chonito B. Baldovi, Engineer III of the OPAg, clustered farming brings together small scale farmers to plant specific High-Value Crops (HVC) to project the harvest volume and connect them with secured buyers to maximize their profit.
“Clustered farming is a combined group of farmers that focuses on planting specific crops. Its purpose is to bring together farmers to produce High-Value Crops so that we can be more efficient in consolidating their harvest. This allows us to understand their planting schedules and project when their harvests will occur, enabling them to receive market assistance provided by the Department of Agriculture through its agricultural and market arm,” he explained.
Baldovi added that this year, their office allotted ₱30 million budget to support clustered farmers in their production of HVCs, including garlic, onion, mango, mung bean, and peanuts.
“These are the HVC we designate our clustered farmers to plant because these crops are well-suited to the province and have a promising market demand,” he said.
The OPAg officer encouraged local farmers, especially those who have a smaller plot of farmland to join clustered farming to avail agricultural assistance, such as planting materials, fertilizers, water pumps, sprayers, and irrigation kits.
He also assured that once the crops have been harvested, the OPAg will link them to their institutional buyers to ensure profit.
For Frank Lagudi, a farmer from Brgy. Lagui-Sail, Laoag City, engaging in clustered farming made planting and selling his crops easier in the five years he joined.
He shared that each planting season, their cluster received seeds, fertilizers, planting tools, and machinery that helps with their production.
“In our association, the Sail Farmers Association of Laoag City, me and my fellow farmers are encouraged to follow these new farming technologies so that we can have more and better harvest during the harvest seasons. I hope that more farmers will be encouraged to join clustered farming because it really helps us small farmers,” he said.
Lagudi expressed his gratitude to this initiative for giving them a secured market, especially because his crops were affected due to the recent typhoons that hit the province.
Farmers interested in joining clustered farming can visit the Ilocos Norte Agriculture and Fisheries Extension Center (INAFEC) in Laoag City. They must be registered in the Registry System for the Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and present a valid identification card so they can be registered for clustered farming. (MJTAB/EJFG/DJKE-intern, PIA Ilocos Norte)
