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Farmers Speak Out: The Everyday Challenges of Selling Their Crops

The Struggles Hidden Behind Every Harvest

For many farmers, planting and growing crops is only half the battle. The real challenges begin after harvest: finding reliable buyers, securing fair prices, and transporting goods to market. Through a series of interviews with small farmers, it became clear that selling crops is filled with uncertainty, risk, and hard compromises.

Finding Buyers and the Problem of Trust

Finding trustworthy buyers is a daily challenge. Interviewee 1 shared:

“Competition in the market and frequent changes in prices make it difficult to get consistent earnings.”

Others, like Interviewee 2, find themselves limited to buyers they already know:

“I rely mostly on referrals or people I know in the community.”

Without access to a wider network, farmers are forced to settle for whoever is available, even if the price or terms aren't ideal.

The Cost of Relying on Middlemen

Middlemen offer convenience, but at a steep cost to farmers' profits. Interviewee 5 explained:

“They take a significant cut, and while they sometimes help with transport, they don’t always give the best deal.”

Others, like Interviewee 3, have moved away from middlemen:

“Middlemen eat into the profits with low-ball offers. That’s why I now avoid them and go directly to market.”

Still, selling directly demands more time, effort, and better transport solutions—which not every farmer can afford.

Transport Troubles: Hidden Costs and Risks

Transportation remains one of the biggest burdens for farmers. Interviewee 6 shared:

“I use a basket on my motorbike to transport the crops. It works, but it would be easier if I had a bigger vehicle.”

Meanwhile, farmers like Interviewee 7 struggle with shared or rented trailers:

“I share a trailer with my cousin to transport the rice. It would be easier if I had my own, but it’s hard to afford one.”

Without affordable, reliable transport, farmers risk losing sales opportunities or paying extra to meet buyers' demands.

The Battle for Fair Pricing

A recurring theme across interviews was the uncertainty around pricing. Interviewee 4 shared:

“The price of corn changes a lot, depending on the season or volume. It’s hard to know if you’ll profit until the last minute.”

Farmers want access to real-time price updates and market forecasts—tools that could help them plan harvests and sales better. Without this information, farmers are forced into rushed decisions, often losing income.

Tracking Sales and Income: The Struggle for Organization

Most farmers still rely on notebooks or mental calculations to manage finances. Interviewee 1 said:

“I keep handwritten notes, but I’m not always consistent.”

This leads to financial uncertainty and missed growth opportunities—farmers often lack clear records to measure their farm’s real profitability.

Technology: A Limited but Growing Influence

While some farmers use mobile data for Facebook and YouTube, many older farmers still have no regular internet access. Interviewee 2 shared:

“I only have a basic phone and don’t use apps like Facebook or YouTube.”

Among those who are online, Tagalog and Cebuano are the preferred languages for browsing. Simple, familiar platforms are critical, as complex apps can feel overwhelming to many farmers.

Insights Gained from the Interviews

📌 Trustworthy buyers are rare – Most farmers stick to familiar faces because expanding their network feels risky.

📌 Middlemen reduce farmers’ income – Direct selling is ideal, but difficult without the right logistics.

📌 Transportation is a hidden barrier – Reliable, affordable transport could drastically improve farmers' ability to sell efficiently.

📌 Price transparency is urgently needed – Real-time market data would empower farmers to negotiate better deals.

📌 Sales tracking is inconsistent – Without digital or structured tracking, farmers lose sight of true profits and expenses.

📌 Digital literacy remains low – Many farmers rely on simple phones, familiar apps, and prefer local languages for online navigation.

A Call for Solutions That Truly Empower Farmers

The interviews reveal a clear path forward for those who want to help farmers succeed:

✅ Connect farmers with a larger, more reliable network of buyers – Reducing dependence on a few local contacts.

✅ Offer affordable transport options or shared logistics services – Helping farmers deliver crops efficiently without excessive costs.

✅ Provide access to real-time pricing information and demand forecasts – Enabling smarter selling decisions.

✅ Develop simple, farmer-friendly digital tools – With local language support and minimal complexity.

✅ Encourage basic digital finance tracking – Helping farmers move away from handwritten notebooks toward more reliable records.

Empowering farmers is not just about better seeds or tools—it’s about giving them the right information, the right connections, and the right support to thrive in an unpredictable market.

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