ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, April 15, 2020 – A total of 3,500 head of broiler chicken from the farmers’ associations supported by the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program were sold in three days despite the travel restrictions brought about by the General Community Quarantine (GCQ) amidst COVID-19.

Zamboanga del Norte has been placed under GCQ as per Executive Order No. 20-24 from March 17 to April 14, 2020 by Gov. Roberto Y. Uy, wherein the movement of people in the community is limited to “accessing basic necessities and going to work,” and where “uniformed personnel and quarantine officers are present at border checkpoints.”

In this juncture, SAAD provincial and area coordinators assisted the FAs by identifying potential markets using their networks. They also facilitated the delivery of the products to each buyer through special permit to deliver from Sergio Osmeña LGU. The marketing of the products was made possible through the collective efforts of the SAAD Zamboanga del Norte team, Department of Agriculture (DA) – Regional Field Office (RFO) IX, local government units (LGUs), national government offices, and individual buyers.

The total sales from 2,900 heads dressed chicken and its carcass was Php 454,059 wherein Php 438,009 is from the dressed chicken sold at Php 130 per kilo, and Php 16,050 for the carcass (gizzard, liver, feet, head, intestine, chicken crop, and proventriculus).

The other 600 head of broiler chicken were sold by the FAs in their communities in cash and credit, with a total sales of Php 72,141 as of April 15, 2020.

The customers are the local government unit of La Libertad; Municipal Agriculture Office of La Libertad; People’s Officials, Employees and Community Multipurpose Cooperative; Department of Social Welfare and Development 9 in Zamboanga del Norte; Provincial Capitol Office of Zamboanga del Norte; Office of Provincial Agriculture Zamboanga del Norte; Poblacion North and Isis in Polanco; Livelihood Skills Development and Enhancement Center; Department of Trade and Industry Office; Provincial Engineer’s Office of Zamboanga del Norte; Dapitan City Market; Poblacion Alto in Sergio Osmena; Office of the Mayor in Sergio Osmeña; Department of Agriculture Regional Satellite Office in Dipolog; and other private individuals.

San Juan Farmers Association and Situbo Farmers Association were recipients of the Broiler Chicken Production with a total project cost of Php 1,485,674.44 funded in FY 2017 and the turn-over of intervention was completed in October 2019.

The FAs will use the generated income to fund the third cycle of their broiler production. The roll-over capital for April 6-8 were from the sales during their first harvest. In January 17, 2020, the FAs were able to produce 2,500 heads of chicken with total earnings of Php 328,575.00.

Likewise, half of SAAD Region IX staff are currently stationed in DA-RFO IX in Zamboanga City with DA regular employees by assisting in the food lane pass distribution in compliance to DA Administrative Order No. 8, series of 2020, or the “COVID-19 Guidelines for Service Continuity and Precautionary Measures in the Workplace”.

In addition, the staff are in coordination with the DA-RFO IX personnel in the implementation of the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita to support farmers and consumers affected by the community quarantine. ###

Writer: Natalianne Delos Reyes, SAAD Public Relations and Communications Officer

Sources:  Cecille La Plana, Area Coordinator III, SAAD PPMSO 9 – Zamboanga del Norte
Catherine Aranton, Area Coordinator II, SAAD PPMSO 9 – Zamboanga del Norte