BUTUAN CITY -- One aspect of the agribusiness paradigm is connecting the products of the farmers, fisherfolk and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to the market.

The ability of farming as a business to be functional and sustainable depends on the market, as well as to the price and income. Thus, the quantity and quality of the produced is meaningless if there is no sustainable market for the products, and if the costing is insufficient to cover the operational expenses and provide objective income for the farmers,  fisherfolk and MSMEs.

This serves as stimulus to the provincial government of Agusan del Norte, in partnership with different government agencies, to take  a big step  and conduct a localized Kadiwa ng Pangulo dubbed as “Agnor Tabo Farmers Kadiwa,” to provide assistance to the primary players in agriculture and local entrepreneurs in the province, and to capacitate them to meet and greet the market they need to establish and sustain.

“The AgNor Tabo Farmers Kadiwa adheres to the call of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to provide a venue for farmers to sell and create market linkage for their products through the “Kadiwa ng Pangulo,” said Agusan del Norte Governor Ma. Angelica Rosedell M. Amante.

Governor Amante further explained that the AgNor Tabo Farmers Kadiwa enables farmers and processors to regulate and grow their agriculture and its products in accordance with the market demand and to process a sizable portion of the crop for value-adding.

With high trust on the initiative of the president, Governor Amante believed that through the AgNor Tabo Farmers Kadiwa, proper intervention will be provided to the farmers and fisherfolk in the province and the MSMEs/processors from the different local government units to have a functional and sustainable market.

Since its launch on June 13, 2023, the AgNor Tabo Farmers Kadiwa has religiously conducted the two-day monthly gathering in a strategic location in the heart of the city where farmers, fisherfolk and MSMEs/processors bring and display their products for sale to the public. In its third month, the AgNor Tabo Farmers Kadiwa has generated a total sales of P1,392,530.10.

As support, locals from all walks of life visit the area to buy fresh and affordable produce in agriculture, marine and processed items.

More than just sell and buy, this interaction paves the way for bigger suppliers to participate and check the local products with high potential for a bigger and global market.

“AgNor Tabo Farmers Kadiwa  continues to expand interventions in agribusiness that include promotion and development, market information and enhancing farmers’ capacity and competitiveness,” said Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Agusan del Norte Provincial Director Ellen Vee Chua, the PPOC head secretariat who also requested the local government units to  deliver full support to the program.

Gloria Samson, a farmer and member of the Hinimbangan Agrairan Reform Cooperative in the municipality of Kitcharao is grateful to the provincial government for spearheading the AgNor Tabo Farmers Kadiwa.

“Pasalamat kami nga mga mag-uuma ug miyembro sa farmers’ cooperative kay gitagaan mi ug sigurado nga kabaligyaan sa among mga produkto, malipayon kami nga gitagaan ug pagtagad sa atong gobyerno, ug makatabang pod kami nga makahatag sa mamalit ug presko ug barato nga baligya (We are happy that the government provided us a venue to sell our products, a guaranteed market for us to display our fresh and affordable products, we are thankful to the provincial government for looking into our needs),” Samson said.

Marilou Camong, vice president of the Innovative Producers Association of Agusan del Norte, Inc. (IPAADNI) also recognized the importance of the AgNor Tabo Provincial Farmers Kadiwa, saying that their sales as MSMEs have increased and have received recognition in other markets.

 “Ang AgNor Tabo Farmers Kadiwa nakatabang ug dako sa mga MSMEs kay ang mga produkto nga among gi-display sa AgNor Tabo, adunay nakapalit ug usa pod kini nga paagi aron mapromote ang mga produkto sa mga munisipyo, nasayran nila kung asa kini pangitaun ug paliton sa panahon nga ila na kini kinahanglanon (During the  AgNor Tabo Farmers Kadiwa, the products of the MSMEs will be displayed, promoted and even sold, the public/buyers will have the ideas where and what municipality the product is produced and they will know where to but it when they need it), said Camong.

Ma. Theresa Balansag from the municipality of Las Nieves, whose residence is far from the AgNor Tabo Farmers Kadiwa, went to the venue to buy fresh and affordable vegetables. She said the vegetables are fresh compared to those sold in the other areas and even lower in prices which was also agreed by Ruel Pedroza.

Pedroza also availed of the products in the AgNor Tabo Farmers Kadiwa, he even said that he saved because of the low prices offered.

The AgNor Tabo Farmers Kadiwa is an avenue wherein local agricultural and fishery products are exhibited to the public and continues to bring safe and affordable food from our farmers,” said Agusan del Norte Provincial Agriculturists Alvin Aclan.

“It also helps empower the farming communities by providing a direct and effective farm-to-consumer food supply,“  Aclan added.

Serving as pillars of AgNor Tabo Farmers Kadiwa are the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP), local government units, farmers cooperative and associations, private sector and the mindful members of the of the Provincial Peace and Order Council, all collaborating to bring the farmers, fisherfolk and MSMEs to higher heights. (NCLM, PIA-Agusan del Norte)