Agusan Norte farmers gain sustainable livelihood through gov’t support
By Nora L. Molde
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — What began as a modest effort among farmers in Purok 5, Balangbalang in the town of Remedios T. Romualdez (RTR), Agusan del Norte, has grown into a model for rural transformation.
The Balangbalang Banana Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (BABAFAC) is now demonstrating how government support, community unity, and local innovation can turn a simple commodity into a sustainable livelihood.
For years, Balangbalang farmers harvested the triploid hybrid banana cultivar known as ‘cardaba,’ which offers meager income potential to farmers, as it is often sold as raw produce. This challenge pushed local growers to rethink their approach. Instead of relying solely on selling unprocessed bananas, they envisioned creating high-value products that would increase their income, strengthen their cooperative, and uplift their entire community.
Under the leadership of Guillermo B. Gumatay, chairperson of BABAFAC, this vision slowly took shape. He recalled how the cooperative had begun with a simple but powerful intention. “Gusto namo nga mas mulambo ang among kinabuhi isip mag-uuma, ug mahatagan og bag-ong oportunidad ang among komunidad. Dili lang unta mi kutob sa pagbaligya og hilaw nga saging (We wanted to improve our lives as farmers and provide new opportunities for our community. We did not want to remain limited to selling raw bananas).”
A major turning point for BABAFAC came through the Department of Agriculture-Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program, which helped farmers organize themselves into a cooperative and guided them through the registration process with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), providing BABAFAC a strong and formal foundation.
DA-SAAD also provided livelihood training, equipment, and capacity-building activities that equipped members with practical skills in banana processing, enterprise management, and cooperative operations.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), through the Negosyo Center RTR, further expanded the cooperative’s capabilities by providing training on product development; one-on-one technical assistance and coaching; business advisory services; skills enhancement in packaging, labeling, and branding; and opportunities for market expansion.
Through these interventions, BABAFAC transformed their raw harvests into high-quality, market-ready products. Their lineup now includes banana chips, caramelized banana chips, and other banana-based snacks, with the caramelized variant becoming a crowd favorite.
For members of BABAFAC, the impact has been life-changing. They now enjoy higher and more stable income; employment opportunities within the cooperative; new skills in processing, packaging, and basic business management; better access to markets and improved bargaining power; and stronger confidence in sustaining a community-driven enterprise.
Farmers who once depended solely on the low-margin sale of raw bananas now earn from regular processing work, profit-sharing, and expanded product distribution across the province.
Beyond financial gains, members proudly share that seeing their products displayed in trade fairs, local stores, and markets outside RTR has boosted their community identity and motivation, inspiring other farmers to follow their example.
Looking ahead, BABAFAC aims to enhance its processing facility, develop more banana-based innovations, increase production volume, and expand its market reach.
Gumatay expressed deep gratitude for the support that helped bring BABAFAC to where it is today. “Dako kaayo among pasalamat sa suporta sa gobyerno. Kung wala ang tabang sa lain-laing ahensya, dili unta mi makaabot sa kung asa mi karon. Ang among kalampusan usa gyud ka paningkamot nga giatiman ug giabagan sa gobyerno,” he said.
(We are deeply grateful for the government’s support. Without the help of various agencies, we would not have reached this far today. Our success is truly the result of hard work made possible by government assistance.)
He also highlighted the values that propelled their cooperative’s growth, saying our success is not because of just one person. It is the result of unity, belief in our product, and perseverance even when things are difficult. If we help one another and trust the process, we can achieve great progress.
He added that BABAFAC’s journey, from its humble beginnings to becoming a recognized local producer, shows the powerful impact of meaningful collaboration between communities and government institutions. Their story also proves that when people work together and see the value of what they already have, even something as humble as a banana can pave the way to breakthroughs. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)
