Abstract:
The paper aims to determine the challenges of the tobacco farmers, trading centers, and middlemen in Candon, Ilocos Sur. It aims to determine the causes of vulnerabilities of the specified actors in the industry. It also aims to determine the areas of improvement that could be done by the government to the specified actors in the industry in Candon, Ilocos Sur. To meet the objectives of the study, the researcher gathered relevant material through interviews with the tobacco farmers, trading center supervisors, and middlemen based in the area. The result indicated that the causes of vulnerabilities of farmers stem from the lack of a comprehensive land reform program, the emergence of the Ideological State Apparatus in the form of farmer leaders, and the lack of participation of farmers in formal organizations. The study also highlighted the role of contract farming to farmers and trading centers, and the impact to the industry of extra contractual marketing and the issue of non-payment of farmers in their financial obligations with the trading centers. The study also underscores the dual role of middlemen as both saviors and exploiters of the farmers. Finally, the study proposes recommendations through identified specific government actions which should help improve the state of tobacco industry in the country.
