Farmers in Ilocos Norte have expressed gratitude to the government for expanding market opportunities that have helped increase their incomes and improve their livelihoods through stronger support for agricultural marketing and value chain development.
Freddie Mar Bagaoisan, president of Zanjera Casilian in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte, said on Thursday that he and his fellow farmers are grateful for the expansion of institutional and commercial markets for locally produced agricultural products, enabling them to sell their produce at more competitive prices and reduce dependence on middlemen.
“Through the government’s investment in a cold storage facility and Bagsakan Center, we have gained better access to buyers, and avoided being scammed by opportunists,” he said in an interview at the VIP lounge of the Ferdinand E. Marcos Sports Stadium.
According to Bagaoisan, the provincial government and other partner agencies have been instrumental in promoting value-adding enterprises and strengthening farmers’ cooperatives, allowing producers to process and market agricultural products. These efforts have created new income streams for them while improving the competitiveness of local agricultural products in regional and national markets.
Farmers said that regular trade fairs, product exhibitions and linkages with institutional buyers have provided more reliable outlets for their harvests, helping stabilize their earnings. Support in the form of training, packaging, product development and marketing assistance has also enabled many farmers’ organizations to reach wider markets.
According to Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, who initiated the “Mercato ni Nanay Ces” trade fair, when she was vice governor, expanding market access is a key strategy for increasing farm productivity and improving rural incomes.
By connecting producers directly with consumers and larger markets, the province aims to build a more resilient agricultural sector while creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for farming communities.
She said these key initiatives demonstrate Ilocos Norte’s continuing commitment to empowering farmers through market-driven agricultural development, helping ensure that increased production translates into higher incomes and better quality of life for rural families. (PNA)
