DAVAO CITY(August 19) — For farmers, producing a good harvest is only half the battle. Finding buyers—and getting a fair price without passing through layers of traders—can determine whether that harvest becomes income or another source of loss.
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Davao Region is trying to close that gap through its annual “PalitAni sa Onse” trade fair, bringing farmer-beneficiaries and consumers closer together while promoting local agricultural products.
The two-day event, which opened Tuesday, allows Dabawenyos to purchase fresh produce and processed goods directly from farmers and irrigators’ associations (IAs) across the region.
Now on its fourth year, PalitAni sa Onse serves as the regional implementation of the national KADIWA sa NIA program and forms part of the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) initiative.
From harvest to market
NIA-Davao Manager Dexter Sablaon said the trade fair gives IAs an opportunity to bring their products directly to consumers at reasonable prices.
“Now, we are giving our IAs the opportunity to deliver fresh, high-quality products directly to the public at reasonable and affordable prices,” Sablaon said.
The approach addresses one of the persistent challenges faced by small agricultural producers: access to stable and profitable markets.
While irrigation is essential to increasing farm productivity, higher production does not automatically translate into higher incomes when farmers struggle to sell their produce at a fair price.
By shortening the distance between producers and consumers, PalitAni seeks to turn irrigation-supported production into a more reliable source of livelihood.
For consumers, meanwhile, the arrangement offers access to locally produced food while allowing them to see where their purchases come from.
More than a weekend market
Sablaon described the products on display as a reflection of the farmers’ hard work and aspirations.
“Every product displayed here is not merely for sale, but represents the harvest of hard work and hope,” he said.
That connection is important in a region where agriculture remains closely tied to rural livelihoods.
The trade fair also puts irrigators’ associations in a position to move beyond their traditional role as beneficiaries of irrigation infrastructure and become active participants in the agricultural value chain.
For NIA, the goal is to ensure that irrigation investments produce benefits that extend beyond water reaching farms.
A reliable water supply can help farmers increase production, but sustained gains depend on what happens after harvest—whether products reach consumers, whether farmers receive viable prices and whether market relationships continue beyond a single event.
Making the market link last
PalitAni’s challenge is therefore not simply attracting buyers for two days.
Its longer-term value will depend on whether the market connections created during the trade fair can develop into regular buying arrangements for farmer groups.
Sablaon called for continued public support for local food producers and regional irrigation initiatives.
“We hope that PalitAni sa Onse will continue far beyond its fourth year, reaching even more people who will enjoy our products and support our farmers and irrigation projects,” he said.
The program’s underlying proposition is straightforward: farmers need not only water to grow food, but also markets that allow them to earn from what they produce.
By bringing farmers and consumers face to face, PalitAni is attempting to bridge that often-overlooked gap—linking irrigation, production and income in a single market chain.
For Davao’s farmers and irrigators, the measure of success may ultimately be less about how many products are sold at the fair and more about whether those products continue to find buyers long after the booths come down.
