QUEZON CITY, March 2, 2020 – The Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) expressed its support to provide agricultural assistance to the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program rice production project beneficiaries in Eastern Samar in a meeting held at the Department of Agriculture, Elliptical Road, Diliman.

Present during the meeting were Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program Director Myer Mula, TIKA Country Director Mustafa Kerimoglu, SAAD Program Deputy Director Ulysses Lustria Jr., and SAAD and TIKA staff.

TIKA is a Turkish agency operating since 1992. It aims to help its sister countries (Turkish-speaking nations) to regain social structures and economic, cultural and educational sustainability through the provision of aid. In 2015, the TIKA has extended their help to other neighboring countries in Africa, Latin America, and Asia, including the Philippines.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) – SAAD Program already has an existing collaboration with the TIKA since 2017. 

In 2019, TIKA awarded 30 horses and provided technical training to two SAAD farmers’ associations (Katabalangan Indigenous Farmers Association and Nanawatan Nabuangan Upland Developer Association) in the province of Apayao.

This time, the SAAD farmers in the municipalities of Balangkaya and Quinapondan in Eastern Samar will benefit from TIKA assistance. 

San Pedro Farmers Association of Quinapondan and Tabi Rice Planters Association of Balangkayan proposed farm machinery and equipment to support their rice production projects. 

Their project proposals were included in the SAAD Areas Needs Assessment Report, submitted by the National Program Management Office on August 3, 2017. ###

Writer: Jemiema Arro, SAAD Public Relations & Communications Officer