DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur (March 6) – In the cool uplands of Kapatagan, potato farming is more than a livelihood — it is a lifeline for farming families and a test of how communities can grow food without degrading the land that sustains them.
The Department of Agriculture (DA), in partnership with local government units (LGUs), is intensifying efforts to develop sustainable, high-value potato production in Davao del Sur — aiming to raise farmer incomes, stabilize local supply, and protect fragile upland ecosystems that feed into the province’s watersheds.
Agriculture Undersecretary for High-Value Crops Cherryl Marie Caballero, together with DA-11 Regional Technical Director for Operations Marie Ann M. Constantino and the High-Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) team, recently visited a potato farm in Kapatagan. They met with members of the Kapatagan Upland Farmers Association (KUFA) and local agriculturists to assess production practices and hear firsthand the challenges faced by growers.
Caballero emphasized that expansion must be guided by discipline, planning, and environmental safeguards.
Parts of Kapatagan fall within protected zones, making responsible land use and agroforestry systems essential. Close coordination with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) is needed to ensure farming activities align with conservation policies and watershed management plans.
“Sustainability is not merely a concept but a responsibility,” Caballero said.
Community benefits beyond the farm
For upland barangays in Davao del Sur, sustainable potato farming offers ripple effects beyond individual farmers.
Stronger household incomes. Potatoes are among the region’s promising high-value crops, potentially generating higher returns per hectare compared to traditional staples. With proper planning and market access, farmers can achieve more predictable earnings, allowing families to invest in education, health care, and farm improvements.
Local job creation. Expanded production means more work — from land preparation and planting to harvesting, sorting, and transport. This creates seasonal employment for farm workers and income opportunities for women and youth in post-harvest handling and small-scale trading.
Improved local food supply. Boosting potato production in Davao del Sur can help supply markets within the province and nearby cities, reducing reliance on shipments from other regions and helping stabilize prices during peak demand periods.
Environmental protection. Sustainable practices — such as contour farming, crop rotation, organic soil management, and agroforestry — help prevent soil erosion in upland areas. This protects downstream communities from siltation and flooding, while preserving soil fertility for future planting seasons.
Stronger farmer organizations. Through associations like KUFA, farmers gain collective bargaining power, better access to government support, and stronger links to buyers and financing institutions.
Addressing persistent gaps
Still, farmers say profitability remains uncertain without systemic support.
During the dialogue, KUFA members cited unstable farm-gate prices, seasonal production swings, limited access to quality planting materials, financing constraints, and marketing bottlenecks. Without stable markets and coordinated production planning, oversupply during peak harvest can quickly erode incomes.
The DA’s engagement signals an effort to move beyond short-term interventions toward long-term community resilience — aligning agricultural productivity with environmental stewardship.
In Davao del Sur’s uplands, the future of potato farming may well depend on how effectively farmers, LGUs, national agencies, and environmental regulators work together — ensuring that growth in the fields translates into shared gains for the entire community.
