SORSOGON, May 13, 2023 – Six (6) farmers’ associations (FAs) supported by the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 1 featured their fresh vegetable produce on the SM Sunday Market program in Sorsogon City.

From April 2 to April 23, 2023, the Sunday Market was initiated by the SM Super Mall, a private chain of shopping malls in the Philippines aiming to help local food producers by providing them with a high-traffic venue to display and market their agricultural products to weekend shoppers.

SAAD Phase 1 farmers association (FAs) in joining SM Sunday Market

With the continuous support of the DA-Regional Field Office 5 (DA-RFO 5) in Sorsogon and the Regional Dairy Production and Technology Center (RDPTC), the SAAD Program Phase 1 beneficiaries were mobilized to join the Sunday Market. Despite the conclusion of the livelihood grants for the FAs, continuous assistance from SAAD Bicol is provided by linking the farmers to suitable platforms to promote their agricultural products and investors.

The agri-trade features variety products such as table eggs, fresh fruits and vegetables such as pako, lubi-lubi, gabi, kamote, saging, taro, ube, niyog, corn, ampalaya, talong, pechay papaya, and malunggay,  table eggs, fruits and vegetables such as pako, lubi-lubi, gabi, kamote, saging, taro, ube, niyog, corn, ampalaya, talong, pechay papaya, and malunggay all produced by the beneficiaries. Through this, the seven (7) participating associations earned Php 38,694.00. 

Participating groups include the Tula Tula Norte Gulayan Farmers’ Association, Pili Farmers’ Association, PutingSapa Vegetable Farmers’ Association, Binanuahan Farmers’ Association, Taboc Organic Farmers’ Association, and the Embarcadero Agri Itik Farmers’ Association who are high value crops, organic agriculture, and poultry production project beneficiaries. 

In addition, newly-organized associations such as San Isidro Castilla Farmers’ Association from Castilla, Sorsogon set to receive interventions and training for Phase 2 under the program’s Organic Agriculture Production this FY 2023 likewise joined the fair.

Mr. Leo Villaflor, from San Isidro Castilla Farmers’ Association, said that the event was an opportunity for the group to accumulate additional income. “Dakulang tabang po samuya an magka-igwa ki arog kaining oportunidad na makapagbenta ki samuyang mga produkto sa SM. Halos pirmi sold out kaya namomotivate po kaming magtanom pirmi para makapagbenta guiraray,” expressed Mr. Villaflor.

(An opportunity like this is a huge help for us. Our products sell out immediately almost every week, motivating us to plant more.)

Ensuring endorsement to the local government unit, SAAD’s exit only opened more opportunities to the groups by tapping several state and private networks, and continuous monitoring to learn about their further needs. Likewise, SAAD Bicol encourages the farmers to stay as a group and prepare for more active participation and efforts to continuously look for opportunities available in parallel agencies and institutions.###

Writer: Pauline Trixia D. Borja, DA-SAAD Region 5 Information Officer
Photos: SAAD Sorsogon PPMSO
Sources: Mary Rose Detera, DA-SAAD Region 5 Associate Project Officer, Maria Ligaya Renegado, DA-SAAD Region 5 Associate Project Officer