SIAYAN, ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE–A total of sixty (60) farmer-beneficiaries of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA – SAAD) Program in the Municipality of Siayan, Zamboanga del Norte had undergone training on Cattle Raising and Upland Rice Production Training on May 28, 2018.  On the next day, May 29, 2018, field demonstration was conducted.

The activity served as a post-delivery intervention after the beneficiaries received the crops and livestock interventions of the program.

Three (3) cooperatives namely Litolet Consumer’s Cooperative (LICONCO), Macasing Consumer’s Cooperative (MACONCO), and Seriac Consumer’s Cooperative (SECONCO) participated in the training. Also, it was attended by some of the members coming from the cooperatives of barangays Moyo, Datagan, and Balunokan. These barangays were the newly identified areas of the DA-SAAD Program in Siayan.

Majority of the participants are members of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) coming from different Indigenous Cultural Communities (ICCs) in Siayan. DA-SAAD, together with the efforts of the Local Government Unit (LGU), works hand in hand to convert and enrich these areas into Basic Agricultural Communities (BACs).

The Resource Speaker for the Cattle Raising training was a former Agriculture Technician from the Municipal Agriculturist Office of Siayan, in the person of Mr. Genor Q. Cabato. He highlighted the importance of the quality of health care and alternative food consumption and enrichment tips for raising cattle.

The Upland Rice production training was discussed by the Chief Superintendent of Betinan Research Station, San Miguel, Zamboanga del Sur, Mr. Ruben T. Baltonado. He emphasized the huge market potential of the upland rice variety. He also discussed the varieties of upland rice and its agronomic characteristics, pre- and post-harvest practices, and the different techniques and technologies for the upland rice production.

The SAAD Program together with the LGU, targets to expand upland rice production in Siayan, by covering an additional thirty-five (35) hectares in the seven (7) identified areas for 2018 SAAD program intervention. For the 2017 SAAD project in the area, thirty (30) individuals each received upland rice seeds good for half a hectare production.

The main goal of the DA-SAAD is in line with the Administration’s initiatives to help alleviate poverty among the marginalized sectors in agriculture.  The program is geared toward poverty alleviation of the poor farmers and fisherfolk in selected areas of operation.

Photos and Write-up: Dave Gramatica, SAAD-Zamboanga del Norte Area Coordinator II

Copy Editor: Ela Arciaga, SAAD NPMO PR & Communications Officer