balita.ph; October 22, 2013 11:12 am 

ARAKAN, North Cotabato, Oct 22 –Farmers here propagating "atsuete" (annatto) are enjoying the fruits of their labor with the presence of Kibalang Trading Center in Sitio Kibalang, Barangay Marilog, Davao City.

"Atsuete" is a food colorant that is used for popular Filipino dishes such as kare-kare and pansit.

The Kibalang Trading Center is managed by Lingkod Saka Inc., a non-government organization which originated from Quezon province.

In an interview with some "atsuete" growers, they said the entry of the Kibalang Trading Center provided them the opportunity for fair and just business because it offers more reasonable price that captures farmers to sell their produce there.

The word of mouth help Rosalina Tabisio, a farmer from Upper Kibalang of the good business opportunity. She said she knows the presence of the trading center in the area from her co-farmers who have already sold their produce to the trading depot.

“Sinabi sa akin ng aking mga kakilala na mas mataas ang presyo rito kung kaya sinubukan naming magpabili rito (Someone told me thar the buying station buys 'atsuete' at higher prices so we came over and do business here),” she said.

Aside from higher buying price, more farmers have articulated that they have chosen Kibalang Trading Center because it is nearer to their area thus saving expenses in transporting their products from their points of origin.

Most of "atsuete" growers were from the villages of Arakan, a town bordering North Cotabato and Davao City's Marilog district.

Mitchel Incesio, an "atsuete" grower from Sitio Malapangi also expressed similar benefit stating that the trading site is very much accessible to the farmers.

From North Cotabato, "atsuete" growers crossed the border and do business with the buying station in Marilog district.

“Dati sa Barangay Calinan kami nagpapabili ng aming mga produktong 'atsuete' kasi wala namang ibang trading center pero nung nagkaroon na ng Kibalang Trading Center, mas pinili namin na dito na kasi mas malapit sa amin tsaka sampung piso lang ang pamasahe patungo rito (We used to sell our products to Calinan district which is farther from us. Now the buying center came closer to us so we grab the opportunity and we save transport cost),” Incesio said.

He also said in the Kibalang center, the buying price of atsuete is P50 kilo, about P20 higher as compared to other buyers. "This is already a big help to our family's basic needs," he added.

In a statement, before the establishment of Kibalang Trading Center in the said place, he recalled that "atsuete" is not a priority crop because it was only bought at 6.00 pesos per kilo.

He said that he now continuously farming "atsuete" because this time, the commodity can be bought at 50.00 pesos per kilo.

Incesio urged his fellow farmers to plant "atsuete" since it does not require extensive management and does not need fertilizers and other farm inputs.

The Department of Agriculture 12 has reported that in July, the Philippines had exported 20 metric tons (MT) or equivalent to 20,000 kilograms of "atsuete" to Vietnam.

The shipment was consolidated by non-government organization Lingkod Saka Inc. and was exported through the Vegetable Importers, Exporters and Vendors Association of the Philippines (Vieva).

Of the total volume, 10 MT came from farmers in Barangay Datu Ladayon, Arakan, North Cotabato, and another 10 MT from producers in Sitio Kibalang, Barangay Marilog, Davao City.

Local farmers took the opportunity to export because Vietnamese buyers offered a good price, and preferred Philippine "atsuete", which they said are better than those from Africa, from which Vietnam used to import regularly.

According to Vieva, importers from Hawaii and the US also signified their interest to buy Philippine "atsuete". [(PNA) PDS/NYP/EOF]