The Peanut Center in the Philippines is Grappling with elevated labor expenses.

Enrile, the renowned peanut capital of the Philippines located in Cagayan, faces a potential loss of its prestigious title due to farmers being deterred from planting peanuts, primarily attributed to the soaring costs of labor. Municipal councilor Pedro Taganguin, a 70-year-old representative from Barangay Lanna, highlighted the substantial financial burden on local farmers, covering cultivation, planting, weed removal, and peanut harvesting.

Having engaged in peanut farming for the past two decades, Taganguin expressed the challenges faced by farmers like him, who endure losses, bearing the P150 cost per worker for planting and harvesting, in addition to expenses for tractors and equipment. At the recent launch of the Peanut Farms and Industry Encounters through Science and Technology Agenda at Cagayan State University, Mayor Miguel Decena Jr. voiced concerns about the potential loss of the town's peanut capital status, citing a decline in production.

Decena referred to data from the municipal agriculture office, indicating a decrease in peanut plantations to 250 hectares across nine barangays, attributing this decline to the inability of peanut farmers to afford labor due to its exorbitant costs. Enrile was designated as the Peanut Capital of the Philippines in 2015 by the then agriculture secretary, Proceso Alcala.

Taganguin revealed a stark reduction in peanut harvests, from a maximum of 150 kilos per farmer to a meager 40 to 60 kilos, sold to traders at P40 per kilo. Despite these challenges, he expressed optimism that the recent event would bring benefits to local farmers and contribute to revitalizing peanut production. Taganguin emphasized the necessity of government support, citing the need for financial assistance to alleviate the escalating costs of labor and production.

In parallel, Reynaldo Ebora, Chief of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development, underscored the event's objective to revive the industry. He highlighted the PCAARRD's Industry Strategic S&T Program for Legumes, aiming to boost the country's peanut production from 1.24 tons to 3.0 tons per hectare. The program seeks active participation from local government units, investors, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and other stakeholders, with a dual focus on food security programs and enhancements to the peanut industry.