BOHOL, August 31, 2023 – Fruits and vegetable farmers of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Phase 2 joined the annual Sandugo Agri-Fair during the Sandugo Festival in Bohol, as a venue to widen and extend markets of local farmers in the province. 

Bohol’s Sandugo Festival, held every July, launched a three-day agriculture products fair called Sandugo Agri-Fair in support of local farmers. The festival is in honor of the historical blood compact between Datu Sikatuna, a Bohol chieftain, and Miguel Lopez de Legazpi, a Spanish conqueror, to officially seal the bond of friendship between the natives and the Spaniards.

Meanwhile, the agri-fair was initiated by the local government unit (LGU) of Sikatuna held in Old Airport in Tagbilaran, Bohol from July 17 to 19 in coordination with the Provincial Government of Bohol. The agri-fair is a significant marketing promotion event intended for the regional agri-fishery sector to display fresh farm produce and evaluate the marketability of said agricultural products. 

From barangay Bahaybahay, Sikatuna, Bohol, the Cambacan Integrated Farmer’s Association (CIFA)  registered themselves as a group at the Department of Labor and Employment in June 2023. In the  same year, they were also identified as beneficiaries of the SAAD Program. The association is composed of vegetable and fruit growers currently tilling a 7-hectare consolidated land area.

To participate in the agri-fair activity, the 25 active members of CIFA set up a booth where they display their own fresh farm produce. Customers from some parts of the province visited them and bought their products at a price range of Php 20.00 – Php 60.00. They sold ampalaya at Php 60 per kilogram, eggplant and string beans at Php 40 per kilogram ,Php 30 for every kilogram of bananas, and squash at Php 20 per kilogram. They earned Php 5,200 on the first day, Php 6,000 on the second day, and Php 4,800 on the last day. In total, the group members accumulated Php 16,000 consolidated gross income from their individual fruit and vegetable harvest.

“Kaming mga mag-uuma sa Cambacan Integrated Farmers Association nanghinaot sauna pa nga ang SAAD Program maghatag namo ug mga panginahanglan sa among umahan ug mga trainings nga adunay kalabigitan sa pag-uma ug pagpalambo sa asosasyon. Natabangan gyud mi tanan. Walay poas nga pasalamat sa mga nagdumala sa SAAD Program,” shared  Efren S. Bacsan, CIFA Chairperson.

(We, the farmers of Cambacan Integrated Farmers Association, hoped before the program implementation that SAAD will provide us with farming tools and training on farming and organizational development. Assistance was really provided to all of us. Our unending thanks to the management of the SAAD Program.) 

Ms. Abegail B. Sentorias, OIC- Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) of Sikatuna looked forward to creating a positive impact like increased income of the beneficiaries by providing them a free venue to market their harvests through participating in events like the agri- fair. The SAAD Bohol team and the Municipality of Sikatuna provided transport and assisted the farmers in hauling their products. 

“Our participation in the Sandugo Agri-Fair 2023 would not be possible without our farmers. With this, we would like to express our gratitude to our SAAD farmers who actively participated – we commend your effort and dedication, ” said Ms. Sentorias. 

CIFA is one of the farmer groups in SAAD  Central Visayas endorsed to municipal agriculture offices for continued support in crop production and marketing. 

“We thank the SAAD Program for its dedicated personnel who supported our local farmers. We are looking forward to collaborating with you in the implementation of other activity components and in promoting the development of our agriculture sector,” she added. 

The fair was conducted to recognize the hard work of Boholano farmers and to provide an ideal free market location for their agricultural products. This year, the municipality of Sikatuna plans to construct a general enterprise (sari- sari) store near the municipal hall exclusively for SAAD farmers in Sikatuna to display and sell their products. ###

Writer: Jessica R. Alvero, DA-SAAD Central Visayas Information Officer 
Source: Grace C. Quisto, SAAD Bohol area coordinator