From survival to stability: The transformation of farmers in Kitcharao, Agusan Norte
By Nora L. Molde
Before sunrise breaks over the fields of Kitcharao in Agusan del Norte, the road leading to the LGU Farm is already alive.
The low rumble of engines cuts through the morning stillness as trucks and motorcycles, heavy with freshly harvested vegetables, make their way to the market. Farmers arrive one by one, unloading baskets of eggplant, squash, okra, and leafy greens, produce that, not long ago, would have been sold at prices barely enough to recover what they spent to grow them.
Today, the scene tells a different story.
Buyers gather early, scanning the rows of produce. Conversations flow easily. Prices are negotiated face-to-face. There are no middlemen dictating terms—only farmers and consumers meeting on equal ground.
This is “Tabo sa Kitcharao LGU Farm,” a twice-weekly market day held every Tuesday and Friday. What may seem like a simple trading space has become, for many farmers, a turning point.
For years, farmers in Kitcharao depended on intermediaries who controlled the flow of goods and dictated prices. Earnings were unpredictable, often leaving families struggling to make ends meet. But here, in this open market, that cycle is slowly being broken.
By selling directly to consumers, farmers now take home a bigger share of their hard work. The change is immediate, felt not just in their income, but in their sense of control.
The local government of Kitcharao has quietly reinforced this shift. Vehicles are deployed to collect produce from farms and transport it to the market, easing one of the heaviest burdens farmers face: the cost of taking their goods to the market. With the initiative, what used to be an uncertain livelihood income has now become stable.
The effort reflects a broader push aligned with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to attain stronger agricultural productivity, better market access, and fairer returns for farmers.
But beyond policies and programs, the real story is found in the lives being rebuilt.
In Barangay Mahayahay, farmer Nelia Geroy remembers when floods wiped out their vegetable garden. The loss was not just financial—it cast uncertainty over how her family would recover.
Geroy received seedlings and assistance from the local government, allowing her to start planting again on their 3.5-hectare farm.
Recovery did not happen overnight. But season by season, crop by crop, Geroy is finding her footing again.
Her story echoes across Kitcharao, where many farmers are experiencing similar second chances under the Kitcharao Livelihood and Employment Project (KLEP).
Launched in 2023, the program has steadily expanded its reach. In its first phase alone, more than a hundred farmers collectively produced over 126,000 kilograms of vegetables, generating millions in sales. Subsequent phases brought in more farmers, more funding, and more opportunities, including support for members of the Mamanwa indigenous community.
Yet the impact of KLEP goes beyond numbers.
At the heart of the initiative is a three-hectare LGU Farm in Sitio Lapucon, a space that serves not just as a production site, but as a place for learning and growth. Here, farmers are introduced to modern, integrated farming methods that combine crops, livestock, and aquaculture.
Instead of relying on a single harvest, they are learning to diversify, spreading risk, increasing productivity, and creating multiple sources of income.
Mayor Jenry Montante believes that lasting change begins with knowledge. “I want our farmers to learn and be guided by the modern way of farming. They will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to sustain their livelihood.”
Training sessions, supported by agencies such as the Department of Agriculture – Agricultural Training Institute, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), provide farmers with tools to adapt, whether it means improving yields, adopting new techniques, or responding to shifting market demands.
Even the farm itself is evolving. With a tilapia pond and recreational fishing area, it is beginning to open doors to agri-tourism, offering yet another stream of income.
What is happening in Kitcharao is not a sudden transformation, but a steady one.
The early-morning activity and enthusiasm of farmers in their daily farm-to-market routine attest to this transformation and profound confidence. It is heard in conversations where prices are negotiated, rather than dictated. It is felt in households where income is no longer as uncertain as it once was.
Municipal Agriculturist Raul del Agua observed that farmers are no longer simply producers at the mercy of the market. They are becoming active players in a growing local food system, one that values their work and sustains their future.
And as the sun rises higher over the LGU Farm, the market continues to buzz with activity. Each sack of vegetables unloaded, each sale made, carries more than just produce. It carries the weight of past struggles and the promise of something better.
In Kitcharao, the journey from survival to stability is no longer just an aspiration; it is already a growing reality. (NCLM, PIA Agusan del Norte)
