The project is implemented in five (5) areas i.e. Benguet, Pangasinan/Nueva Ecija, Laguna/Quezon, Cebu and Bukidnon/Misamis oriental. Production areas selected in Pangasinan are covered by four (4) barangays in Urdaneta and another four (4) barangays in Laoac, Pangasinan while San Jose City and Talavera were identified in Nueva Ecija. Aritao, Nueva Viscaya was identified by traders in Urdaneta, Pangasinan as another major source of early wet season tomato but was not visited by the project. This site will be considered for the second year of the study.
Production areas considered in Laguna/Quezon were Nagcarlan and Liliw in Laguna and Dolores, Quezon. Municipality of Argao and Barile were identified in Cebu. Although Iloilo was not considered during the first year of the project, it is recommended that areas in Sta. Barbara, Leon and San Miguel be considered as another study area for tomato.
During the first year of the project, Claveria, Misamis Oriental was considered but will be extended to Bukidnon during the second year.
Preliminary data gathering was done in May and early April. Secondary information on tomato growing areas was obtained from the department of Agriculture – Benguet province. Profiles were obtained from the municipalities identified.
A participatory appraisal coupled with a focused group discussion was conducted at Barangay Ambongdolan, Tublay on April 19,2000. About 8 farmers participated in the discussion. A total of only 12 farmers were interviewed in Ambongdolan and Tuel, Tublay and from Camp 3, Tuba during the months of May and June. This was because a number of growers in Tublay have already given up tomato production due to blight problems that were encountered in the past.
Market verifications were done in July. The researchers were fielded to do informal surveys of the Baguio Hangar market and the La Trinidad trading post. Findings revealed that the bulk of the tomato supply comes from Sagada, Mountain Province and from Nueva Vizcaya.
Interview of growers, traders and key informants was conducted in Laoac and Urdaneta City. There were 20 growers interviewed in Laoac, and seven traders out of the target 15 were interviewed in Urdaneta City. Interview of 20 growers from Urdaneta City and other key informants is still being conducted (as of July 2000 report).
The cropping pattern reported in the area as planted during the 1999-2000 crop year is green corn-tomato. Green corn is planted at the onset of rainy season in May and harvested in July. The field is left fallow until October when tomato is planted. Harvesting started January. The most predominant variety used was Apollo, presumably introduced by assembler-wholesaler and trader-contractors from Laguna.
Majority of tomato farmers in Laoac sold their tomatoes on contract. By December, almost all of the farms are already contracted. Most of the contract buyers were from Laguna. These buyers were preferred because of their honesty and integrity.
The site considered for Laguna are in Abo-Bukal, Nagcarlan and Novaliches, Liliw, Laguna. Farmers and traders survey were already conducted and a farmer consultation workshop were done in July 19, 2000. There were 30 farmers interviewed in Bukal, Nagcarlan, Laguna while there were only 14 respondents in Liliw.
There are apparrent similarities in the varieties used in Nagcarlan and Liliw. Common varieties are Tinagbak (selection from Del Monte), BRCI, Apollo, and Del Monte. However, there are differences in terms of marketing practices. Farmers in Abo-Bukal directly sell with the traders at the trading post. On the other hand, farmers in Novaliches has to deal with agents locally termed as "booker" who consigned the product and sell it to San Pablo City or Metro manila Markets. With "booking" system, the farmers are not assured of the price they will receive. The "booker" will only inform them after the products are sold. Although limited, there are reported credit-marketing tie-up between local traders and the farmers. The trader provide credit for fertilizer and chemicals but the farmers have to sell their produce to the trader. However, there is only one trader in Novaliches who was reported to be doing this and the arrangement is limited only to relatives and friends of the trader.
Secondary data gathering on Municipal profile and maps of Claveria, Misamis Oriental as well as coordination with the Municipal Agricultural Development Council, Municipal Agricultural Office and the Misamis Oriental State College of Agriculture and Technology was done on July 16, 2000. Commodity profile about the farm gate price, retail prices and production data were also obtained within that week.
Individual interviews with 31 tomato growers were conducted in Barangay Luna, Barangay Lanise, and Barangay Tambobo-an on July 19–20, 2000. For the marketing, 5 tomato traders were interviewed on July 22, 2000 in Agora market, a center of trading activities for tomatoes in Cagayan de Oro City.
Preliminary survey results in form of SWOT matrix and problem tree were presented in the presence of farmers, some members of the Barangay Development Council and the Municipal Planning Development Officers.
Secondary data were gathered from Municipal Agricultural Office of Sibunga, Cebu last August 1 and Barangay Banlot, a major production area for tomato was identified as project sites. Major problems of producers are: occurrence of pests and diseases, financial support, technical support and unavailability of good farm to market road.
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and survey was conducted on the following day and about 28 farmers participated. Validation of the gathered data was also done through the help of farmers. Tomato traders were interviewed in the evening at Carbon, Cebu City. Findings revealed that the bulk of supply comes from Cagayan de Oro City and Southern part of Cebu, specifically from Sibunga. The varieties available in Carbon Market are ‘Pope’ (from Sibunga and Sudlon) and ‘BRCI’ (from Cagayan de Oro City).