Cordillera Vegetable Farmers FormMulti-Province Network to Save Industry

Farmers and advocates from Mountain Province, Ifugao, and Benguet have joined together to form a new regional group called the Kanatengan Network. This was established after a two-day conference on July 13-14 at Mt. Data Lodge, Sinto, Bauko, where seventy-six farmers shared case studies on more than eight crops. They reported problems such as falling farmgate prices, rising production costs, and weak government support.

These three provinces make up the country’s “vegetable belt,” which supplies 80% of the Philippines’ highland vegetables needs. The Kanatengan Network hopes to expand its scope to other vegetable producing towns in order to address the worsening problems of the vegetable industry.

Problems Faced by Farmers

From the case studies, farmers explained that the high cost of production comes from:

Heavy use of chemical inputs and food supplies during planting.
Loans from suppliers with very high interest rates.
Suppliers taking a share of farmers’ net income, aside from profits from inputs.
Transport costs of ₱4–₱7 per kilo, depending on farm location.

Farmers also said that their calculations often exclude unpaid family labor, since many family members work without pay on the farm.

Another big problem is the unstable vegetable prices at trading centers. Farmers hear one price on the radio, but when they arrive at the trading post, prices may drop or rise within hours. This constant change often leads to bankruptcy. Farmers are asking for floor prices (minimum guaranteed prices) for certain crops so they won’t suffer continuous losses.

Lack of Government Support

Farmers also complained about the lack of government help:

Relief goods after typhoons are not enough.
Farm-to-market roads are poorly maintained, and farmers themselves often clear debris.
Importation of vegetables creates unfair competition, lowering local prices.

They are calling on consumers to buy local vegetables instead of imports, and they want the national government to stop importation as a way to stabilize supply and prices.

Voices from the Farmers

Nestor, a farmer from Tinoc, Ifugao, shared:

“Adda kuma naan anay nga suporta ken superbisyon kadakami nga farmers. Nu adda kalamidad adda kuma suporta iti farm inputs. Ngem saan nga umanay ti tulong ti goberno. For example maysa nga sachet nga seeds. Saan nga umanay diyay nga pangkabiagan ti farmers. Nu naka-register man iti RSBSA ket ada farmers nga saan nga makaawat ti suporta…nu adda typhoon dagiti farm to market roads ket dakami metlang nga farmers ti mang-open.”

(Translation: “We need real support and supervision for farmers. During calamities, we should receive farm inputs, but government help is not enough. For example, one sachet of seeds is not enough for farmers to survive. Even if registered in RSBSA, some farmers do not get support. And when typhoons damage farm-to-market roads, it is still us farmers who clear them.”)

A farmer from Bauko, says:

“Awan pay ti naawat mi nga tulong para kadakami nga mannalon. Adda kuma ited da nga pangbiag mi”.

(Translation: “We have not received any support as farmers. We hope they can support our livelihood”.)

Woman farmer from Madange, shared:

“Nu wada di presyo, wada bumelas si gangan-us mi. Nu kuma sumurot nan presyo di nateng nu ngimina di inputs. Maregulate kuma nan presyo ti inputs from the government, ken adda kuma subsidy nu ngumina nan presyo di inputs. Maisardeng kuma nan importasyon.Tangkilikin nan sariling atin.”

(Translation: “If vegetable prices are good, we are able to profit. It will be better if vegetable prices follow when there are increases in prices of inputs. The government can help by regulating prices of inputs and it should subsidize when prices of inputs increase. There should be a stop to importation. Let us support local producers.”)

Goals of the Kanatengan Network