BOHOL, May 13, 2020 – The Local Government Unit (LGU) of the municipality of Mabini through Mayor Juanito L. Jayoma directly procured 320 kgs squash harvested by the three farmers of Barangay Minol namely: Domingo G. Ayade (184 kg); Remigio R. Salarda (69 kg); and Jee Ann S. Tutor (68 kg). 

As beneficiaries of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program, the farmers received free farm inputs, such as vegetable seeds (squash, eggplant, ampalaya, string beans, and okra), organic and inorganic fertilizers, plastic drum, and sprinkler under the Bohol Vegetable Production Project costing Php 4,542,000. These inputs were distributed by the SAAD Program during the last quarter of FY 2019, which was granted to 600 individual farmer-beneficiaries to 30 barangays of municipalities of Bien Unido (6 barangays), Buenavista (6 barangays), Carlos P. Garcia (6 barangays), Getafe (6 barangays), and Mabini (6 barangays). 

FY 2019 Bohol Vegetable Production Project

The DA-RFO 7 SAAD staff disclosed that the LGU gathered the squash from the farmers’ farm and delivered this to the town’s designated trading center. The squash was bought by the LGU at a farmgate price of Php 15.00/kg and was sold to the consumers at Php 17.00/kg.

Mayor Jayoma shared with the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Regional Field Office (RFO) 7 staff that he wanted to help the farmers to immediately earn cash especially in this time of health crisis. The harvest was timely in this time of community quarantine due to COVID-19, when the people need more accessible and affordable food supply.

Ms. Aurea M. Madrio, the regional SAAD Focal Person of DA-RFO 7 said that the farmers were very thankful to the SAAD Program for the assistance provided to them.  

“Nagpasalamat mi sa programa nga SAAD sa DA kay gawas nga naka kaon meug preskong utanon, naka kwarta pa jod mi pinaagi sa ilang gihatag nga binhi ug abuno, ug igo nalang mi nitanom ug niatiman pinasubay sa among nakat-unan sa among training ”, Mr. Ayade said.

(We are thankful for the DA-SAAD program, because, through the farm inputs that we received, we were able to produce our own vegetables and at the same time earn income from the sales. Our only investment is family labor for the care and maintenance of the crops using the knowledge from the training that we have attended as our guide). 

DA7 Regional Executive Director Atty. Salvador D. Diputado said that this is a good response from the LGU on the call of the Secretary William Dar that they (LGU) buy farmers produce.  “This is part of DA’s campaign to encourage the LGU to help the farmers continue producing and earning amid enhanced community quarantine,” Diputado added.###

Writers:

Quian Ibarra, DA-RFO 7 RAFIS

Jemiema Arro, SAAD Public Relations and Communications Officer