NORTHERN SAMAR – The Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture helps the province of Northern Samar continually grow its production of swine with the ongoing Swine Fattening Project under the program’s FY 2017 Fund in 10 municipalities.

It is undeniable that hog raising in the Philippines has been a common and profitable business for Filipinos through the decades, especially those families living in the rural areas,

With the 2,231.66 million metric tons of hogs produced in the country as of 2016, a total of 76,390 metric tons was produced in Eastern Visayas region with 8,741 metric tons contributed by Northern Samar.

Last February 1, 2018, 105 heads of piglets were given to 35 beneficiaries from Barangay Bangkerohan in the municipality of Catarman. Beforehand, they were also given a total of 157.5 bags of starter feeds.

Also, thirty-five (35) beneficiaries from the municipality of Catubig received 157.5 bags of starter feeds for swine production last January 30, 2018.

The rest of the municipalities covered by the SAAD Northern Samar’s swine fattening project are Bobon, Lavezares, Rosario, Mondragon, Silvino Lobos, San Roque, Pambujan, and San Jose.

The same project is also being done in various municipalities of Eastern and Western Samar under the SAAD Program FY 2017 Fund.

Aside from swine production, SAAD Northern Samar also has other projects such as poultry, goat, vegetable, rice, and corn production. Last February 1, 2018, 31 bags of complete fertilizer, 31 bags of urea, and 31 bags of muriate of potash were given to 32 beneficiaries from Barangay Cancahepus, Laoang under the corn production project of the province.

The province of Northern Samar is one of the 10 priority provinces of the SAAD Program in the year 2017, along with Eastern and Western Samar. This year, Leyte and Southern Leyte are included in the program.  All said provinces are from the Eastern Visayas Region. ###

Writer: Jhomai Canlas, SAAD PR & Communications Officer