To help its beneficiaries improve their market reach and competitiveness, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program Phase 2 conducted a two-day market identification and benchmarking activity on May 22–23, 2025, in Sta. Catalina and nearby towns of Ilocos Sur.
Led by SAAD Project Officer Fridlee O. Rodriguez, SAAD Area Coordinator Calern Marinas, and Paratong FA President Teresita G. Raqueño, this initiative armed members of the Paratong Farmers Association with the knowledge to successfully sell their products and strategize against market competition in the region.
The team’s visit to Sta. Catalina, Vigan, and Sto. Domingo yielded significant findings where six potential market outlets for cattle and seven for vegetable produce were identified. These outlets were strategically chosen for their accessibility and alignment with SAAD-supported farmers’ products.
A key aspect of the activity involved assessing market competition. The team identified 18 vegetable producers and 10 cattle suppliers in the same vicinity. This intelligence provides farmers with the necessary insights to navigate the local market effectively and optimize their product positioning.
“Napateg dagitoy a tulong kanyami a mannalon. Saan laeng a maipanggep iti panagmula kadagiti apit wenno panagtaraken kadagiti dingwen – maipapan met ti pannakaammo no sadino ken kasano ti panangilako kadagitoy,” said Raqueño.
(This kind of help is very important for us farmers. It’s not just about growing crops or raising animals—it’s also about knowing where and how to sell them.)
Rodriguez also shared, “Daytoy ti karit kanyak: pagbalinen dagiti mannalon a kas Agri-Preneur. Daytoy a market identification ken benchmarking ket isu ti stepping stone ti asosasion tapno adda pagibasaran ken maamuanda dagiti mabalin a pagikabilan iti naapitda. Dagitoy a datos ket pagibasaran met laeng tapno ammo da ti ag-negosiar iti sumaruno a transaksion da.”
(This is my challenge: to transform farmers into Agri-preneurs. This process of market identification and benchmarking serves as a stepping stone for the association, so they have a basis and understand where to invest for their harvest. This data will also serve as a reference for them to know how to negotiate in their future transactions.)
Mariñas noted that understanding the market is key to sustainability. “Kayat mi nga agballigi dagiti mannalon tayo iti masakbayan, ken napateg unay ti panakaammo ti panag-analisis ti mercado tapno magun-od dayta,” he said.
(We want our farmers to succeed over the long term, and understanding how to analyze the market plays a crucial role in achieving that).
By analyzing both opportunities and challenges within the local value chain, the activity empowered farmers to make well-informed decisions, improving their chances for long-term success in the agricultural sector.
The initiative ultimately supports SAAD’s broader goal of not only increasing productivity but ensuring sustainable livelihoods for marginalized farmers. ###
