The Department of Agriculture in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) continues to utilize its resources to help farmers sell their products to direct buyers in a bid to ensure that these farmers earn from their hard work.

“Through these continuing initiatives of empowering the farmers to directly sell their produce to consumers, their net income will increase,” lawyer Jennilyn Dawayan, DA-CAR regional executive director, said on Monday.

She particularly cited the Cordillera Association of Regional Executives (CARE) as among those “actively engaged with the DA in assisting the farming communities in the Cordillera.”

Aside from their link with CARE, Dawayan also said they also advocate for long-term engagement of government officials and employees’ cooperatives to the rice cluster cooperatives.

As of end-April, a total of 1,934 sacks of rice weighing 25 kilos each and worth PHP2.03 million have been ordered from Flora Farm Cluster Agriculture Cooperative (Floraco), one of the established rice clusters being assisted by DA-CAR in Flora, Apayao.

The first batch of rice delivery to Baguio City, composed of 754 sacks, was made on April 24, 2025.

Apayao is among the major rice-producing provinces in the Cordillera, aside from Kalinga.

Meanwhile, Dawayan said CARE also supports other DA-CAR initiatives, particularly on the marketing and transport of major highland vegetables.

She added CARE also supports farmers whenever there are excess or unsold perishable vegetables in different trading posts.

“We post directly to the group chat and they respond with their orders. From the trading posts, the Kadiwa trucks are used to transport and deliver the same to the agency offices who are sure to buy them, ensuring that farmers do not throw rotten products or go home empty handed,” Dawayan said. (PNA)