News Details

Ilocos Norte town farmers bag 100-T onion contract farming deal

NPO

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March 22, 2025

PNA

LAOAG CITY – Onion growers in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte have secured a ready market for their produce through a direct market link to institutional buyers.

Wilfredo Valdez, cluster leader and a beneficiary of the contract farming being promoted by the Department of Agriculture, said they have already committed to deliver 100 tons of white onions in Laguna plus a one-ton buffer stock through a contract growing agreement with Jollibee Group Foundation and state-run Mariano Marcos State University.

The first batch of produce, consisting of about eight tons of white onions produced by Pasuquin farmers, will be delivered on March 28.

“Malaking pasasalamat namin sa programang ito dahil noon ay hindi namin naibebenta ang mga malalaking sibuyas namin. Nirereject ito ng mga traders dahil sa laki. Ngayon ay hindi na kasi GAP-certified na kami at may direct market. (We are so thankful for this program because we could not sell our oversize onions before. Traders reject it but not anymore because we are now GAP (Good Agriculture Practices)-certified and we have a direct market), said Valdez.

The contract agreement, which aims to help stabilize prices of agricultural products, was signed on March 18, 2025 by MMSU President Virgilio Julius Manzano, Jr., Pasuquin Mayor Robert Aguinaldo, officer-in-charge Provincial Agriculturist Maria Teresa Bacnat, Ayat ti Pasuquin Farmers Irrigators Association President Norman Bulosan, and the JGF farmer-operators.

Part of the agreement requires farmers to follow the recommended interventions from agricultural experts of the MMSU to enhance productivity, optimize resource use, and ensure a higher yield for this season’s harvest.

Valdez said the program has inspired them to adopt modern techniques and help promote good agricultural practices to fellow farmers.

In a statement, Manzano recognized the important role of farmers and the strong partnership with institutional buyers to advance agriculture.