TAGBILARAN CITY, December 18, 2023 – To promote and market locally grown agricultural products, two (2) farmer associations (FAs) assisted by the Special Area for Agricultural  Development (SAAD) Central Visayas participate in the 9th Pamaskong Tabo held in Bohol Agricultural Promotion Center in Dao District, Tagbilaran City, from December 5 to 6, 2023.

Pamaskong Tabo, on its 9th year celebration as a traditional holiday market, showcases not only agricultural bounty but also a sense of community pride as 27 FAs and micro and small enterprises (MSMEs) from the province displayed a wide array of locally grown produce and sold their products to both local consumers and tourists.

Spearheaded by the DA Central Visayas through the Provincial Agricultural Technology Coordinating Office (PATCO) and Bohol-Agricultural Promotion Center (BAPC), the annual event not only celebrated the holiday season but also highlighted the importance of supporting and appreciating the dedication of the farmers in sustaining food production.

Cambacan Integrated Farmers Association (CIFA) and Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Basacdacu, composed of 25 members each, participated in the two-day agricultural fair and were able to sell SAAD products such as okra, ampalaya, eggplant, string beans and individually grown crops like upo, tomato, ube, petchay, alugbati, gabi, banana, and patola. Both FAs are recipients of the FY 2023 vegetable production projects for SAAD Phase 2 Program.

With products sold at prices ranging from Php 10 to Php 80 per kilogram, CIFA from Barangay Bahaybahay, Sikatuna earned a total of Php 3,063 gross sales. Meanwhile, Nagkahiusang Mag-uuma sa Basacdacu from Barangay Basacdacu in Alburquerque reported Php 4,816 as total gross sales. In total, the FAs earned Php 7,879 in accumulated sales. 

During the fair, the executives of DA Central Visayas were present – Regional Executive Director Angel C. Enriquez, OIC Regional Technical Director (RTD) for Operations Engr. Cirilo Namoc, and Dr. Fabio G. Enriquez, Research Division Chief.

Director Enriquez urged farmers to increase crop production. She revealed that around 60-70% of DA Central Visayas budget is allocated to Bohol, underscoring the importance of the province in the agricultural landscape.

One of the participating farmers expressed gratitude for the opportunity to market their farm fresh products while also promoting the importance of supporting local food producers.

“Naka-experience gud kami sa kinaunhang higayon nga makapamaligya sa among abot diri sa Tabo, kami nalipay nga adunay hing ani nga mga okasyon arun kami ma-expose sa nagkalahi-lahing pamaagi sa pagpamaligya, arun kami maka adjust ug makasabot sa dagan sa pagmarket sa among gulay,” shared Lynde B. Campion, CIFA member.

(For the very first time we have experienced selling here at Tabo. We are so glad about the initiative to conduct such activities so we will be exposed to various marketing strategies thus providing us a wider perspective and to adjust on the marketing flow for our vegetables.)

As the festive event concluded, the SAAD Phase 2 beneficiaries expressed their plans to focus more on vegetable production so they could join again in the next Pamaskong Tabo in 2024. ###

Writer: Jessica R. Alvero, DA–SAAD Central Visayas Information Officer
Source: Grace C. Quisto, SAAD Bohol Area Coordinator