The Provincial Agriculturist Office in Dumaguete City is now facing a problem on how to market tons of peanuts produced by local farmers.

Provincial Agriculturist Gregorio Paltinca said that about 100,000 tons of peanuts had been harvested from different plantations aided by the provincial government.

He said that, with P1 million investment last year, the provincial government had successfully encouraged farmers in the mountain villages of Sta. Catalina, Pamplona, and Mabinay towns to grow peanuts using seeds and fertilizers loaned out to them by the provincial government.

Paltinca said the areas planted with peanuts were sites of Barangay Agricultural Development Center, where farmers have been comprehensively taught on modern farming, among other things. Paltinca said the seeds and fertilizers were paid by the produce of the farmers.

He added that last month, the provincial government set aside about P1 million to buy peanuts from the farmers at P20 a kilo to protect them from private traders who were then buying at P16 a kilo.

"So we now have tons of peanuts. We are now looking for a market," Paltinca said.

He added that, so far, the surest market is Bohol, which needs a supply of peanuts for its "peanut kisses" delicacy.

Paltinca said that on March 31, about a ton of shielded (clean and dry) peanuts will be delivered to Bohol.*RA

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