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Abstract:
Generally, the study assessed the value adding activities of sugarcane farmers in Banawag Norte, Santiago City, Isabela. Specifically, this was aimed the following: 1) document the operation of small farmers engage in sugarcane production and its value adding activities; 2) identify the marketing strategies employed by the farmers; and 3) determine the profitability in production and doing value adding activities in sugarcane. The study showcased the marginal farmers in Banawag Norte, Santiago City, Isabela and from their smallholding upland farms were able to utilize them into a very productive and progressive livelihood that dwells the economy of the community. Through the supports of the Department of Agriculture and the City Government of Santiago were boosted the development of the community and they are now being known of their one-town-one product "Patupat" (Glutinous Rice Cooked by dipping in a boiling sugarcane juice). They started to engage this kind of endeavour since 1988 up to the present. The farmers produces sugarcane, process them and marketed by themselves within the community. The value adding activities and marketing of products are village-type involving family members with greater participation of women and young children in the household. They produced various organic food products out of sugarcane like "patupat", vinegar, "tagapulot", wine and mascovado sugar. Incomes generated were able to support the social and economic advancement of their respective families. They were able to purchase processing equipment, improved farming operation, put up product display centers along Santiago-Quirino road and sent their children to school.
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