APAYAO – The Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Apayao provided five (5) hand tractors, 58 sheep, and planting materials composed of 1,050 lemons and 1,050 sweet tamarinds to farmers of Flora and Sta. Marcela on June 2019.

During the celebration of Kabinnulig Festival in Flora on 19 June 2019, the tractors were awarded to three (3) associations. They are the SAMMBA (Sta. Maria, Mallig, Malayugan and Balluyan) Farmers Association, MAST (Malubibit Norte, Malubibit Sur, Anninipan, San Jose and Tamalunog) Farmers Association, and ABUWEB (Atok, Bagutong, Upper Atok, Poblacion West, Poblacion East and Balasi) Farmers Association. The former got one hand tractor while the latter two got two each.

Fifty-eight (58) sheep were also distributed during the event. Thirty (30) head were given to SAMMBA Farmers Association of Flora while the 28 head were provided to Sta. Marcela farmers.

Meanwhile, 105 farmers from barangays Bagutong, Atok, San Jose, Mallig, and Anninipan of Flora received the lemons and sweet tamarinds on 24 June 2019.

The farmers were grateful for the planting materials. One farmer shared, “Maragsakan kami unay ta makakita ken makaraman kamin ton iti kastoy nga klase nga prutas ken agyaman kami kadaytoy nga programa (We are very thankful to the SAAD Program for we are privileged to see and taste such kind of fruits).” ###

Writer: Jhomai Canlas, SAAD PR & Communciations Officer