Farmers’ Exchange! Talaba, Bagongon, Banisil Palit Pomelo, Piña, Papaya

Starting next Friday, Sept. 23, an experiment on a modified Barter System between land-based and coastal farmers will be launched with my old Isuzu Elf bringing Pomelo, Papaya and Pineapple from Central Mindanao to the coastal town of Kabasalan, Zamboanga Sibugay and coming back loaded with sea shells and oysters.
(This was originally set for Sept. 16 but the Kabasalan partners asked that it be moved to give them enough time to set up their stalls.)
This is a concept which I had long thought of to address the oversupply of certain commodities in some areas which are actually in demand in other parts of the country.
Similar programs were implemented when I was Agriculture Secretary through the DA TienDA which brought vegetables from Mindanao to Metro Manila and when I was Chairman of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) through the MinDA Tienda which brought fruits from Mindanao to Metro Manila and Baguio City.
The exchange was not complete, however, as no products from Baguio City and Metro Manila were brought down to Mindanao to “balance the trade.”
Last week during a visit to Kabasalan, however, I was presented with a problem which I thought could be addressed by the “Modified Barter System” which I designed.
Former Kabasalan Mayor Nonoy Chu, now a councilor, told me that they had problems with the overpopulation of sea shells in their fishponds which he identified as Bagongon (Horn Shell) and Banisil (Black Devil Shell) which devoured the natural food intended for their cultured Bangus.
These shells are actually sought-after delicacies by many inland communities cooked with bamboo shoots, saluyot and gata ng niyog.
Then I remembered the problem of fruit farmers in South Cotabato producing Papaya, Pineapple and others who did not have access to the market and just fed the overripe fruits to cattle when these are not sold.
Pinagtagpo ko lang and I decided to make a little investment by buying the fruits in South Cotabato plus Pomelo which is produced in abundance in my hometown.
The fruits will be brought to Kabasalan and then pagbalik ng Isuzu Elf truck ko it will be loaded with 5 tons of Bagongon, Banisil and Talaba for the markets of Kidapawan City, M’lang, Matalam, New Rizal and Tulunan.
A group of fisherfolk led by Ramon Magsaysay Awardee Roberto “Dodoy” Ballon will receive the fruits and sell these in Kabasalan with the support of the local government unit led by Mayor Katrina Balladares, Councilor Nonoy Chu and municipal agriculturist Miladel Capitania.
I have asked my younger brother, M’lang Vice Mayor Joselito Piñol to handle the marketing and distribution of the shells and oysters in the markets of Cotabato.
This “Farmers’ Exchange” will be done every weekend which traditionally is the market day of most towns.
Of course, tutubuan namin ng kaunti para may pambayad sa krudo at para sa mga workers ko sa farm but the mark up will not make the fruits or the shells expensive.
More than that, we will be able to solve the problems of the fruit farmers of lack of market and the fishpond farmers who considered the Bagongon and Banisil as pests which devour the “lumot” and “lablab” in the ponds intended for the Bangus.
Sabi nga nila: Nakatulong na, kumita pa.😃
#KungGustoMaramingParaan!
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!