Agriculture has long been the backbone of the Philippine economy, with farming providing livelihoods for millions of Filipinos in rural areas. However, despite their crucial role in food production, farmers often struggle to earn fair compensation for their labor. One major obstacle contributing to their plight is their reliance on middlemen to sell their produce which often makes them vulnerable to exploitation.
Photo by Michael Varcas
With no effective government programs addressing this issue, farmers have little choice but to depend on traders and intermediaries. But why is it so difficult for farmers to sell directly to consumers?
The Barriers To Direct Selling
One key issue is land ownership. According to Nanay Zen, the national chairperson of Amihan Women, many farmers do not own the land they cultivate; they work as tenants on government- or privately-owned properties. This means they lack access to financial support and resources that could empower them to sell their harvests independently.
Photo of a carrot farmer on the roadside by Dave Leprozo
When farmers around Atok, Benguet were asked about their take on this topic, they said this struggle will directly affect those who don’t own their farming lands and, therefore, will present logistical and financial challenges. Starting off with transporting goods to urban markets is costly, and perishable crops risk spoiling before reaching consumers.
Renting stalls at public markets involves considerable investment, such as business registration fees and operational expenses. Setting up small stalls alongside roads to reduce these costs is not a legal alternative, as roads are designated for public use unless the farmers own the land. Without ownership, this would be considered illegal. Faced with these barriers, farmers are often forced to accept deals with middlemen who buy their produce at low prices and resell it for significant profits.
