DAVAO DE ORO, May 28, 2020 – Ensuring food supply and livelihood to 11 covered municipalities in the province, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Region 11 concluded the month-long distribution of 2,000 bags of rice and white corn open-pollinated variety (OPV) seeds including other farm inputs, prompting 2,000 farmer-beneficiaries to jumpstart planting.

The seeds distributed under SAAD FY 2020 implementation are included in the Upland Rice Production Project and OPV White Corn Production Project which cost Php 4,456,700.00 and Php 2,502,700.00, respectively.

The Upland Rice Production Project assisted 1,000 beneficiaries from the 26 priority barangays from the municipalities of Monkayo, Montevista, Compostela, Maragusan, New Bataan, Laak, Nabunturan, Mawab, and Maco. Each farmer received a bag of 50 kg upland rice seeds (Dinorado variety) along with a bag of complete fertilizer and a bag of urea fertilizer worth Php 4,456.70.

Under the OPV White Corn Production Project, another 1,000 beneficiaries from 30 priority barangays of Monkayo, Montevista, Compostela, Maragusan, Laak, Nabunturan, Mawab, Maco, Pantukan, and Mabini individually received Php 2,502.70 worth of 20 kg OPV white corn seeds with a bag of complete fertilizer and a bag of urea fertilizer.

Collectively, 2,000 hectares of fertile land in the entire province will be planted with upland rice seeds and OPV white corn seeds. The farmers expect to harvest in four months’ time amid the uncertainties brought by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ms. Naomi Lamata, SAAD focal person, said that the distribution is just timely since this pandemic has encouraged farmers to plant more and secure food for themselves in the days to come. She has high hopes that the project will be successful especially during this time of global health crisis.

During the distribution on May 20, 2020 at Brgy Maparat, Compostela, the Punong Barangay, Mr. Alejo Luzano, expressed his gratitude to the program and encouraged his constituents, saying: “Kining similya nga naay pakapin abuno atoa jud ning padaghanon arun makahatag og dungag pangkaon og kita sa atong tagsa-tagsa na panimalay”. [“With the seeds and fertilizers given by the program, let us reproduce it as this will augment our food and income for our individual households.”]

The month-long distribution activity was strongly supported by DA-SAAD’s constant partners, which are the Provincial Local Government Unit of Davao de Oro through the Provincial Agriculturist Office, the 11 Municipal Local Government Units through their Municipal Agriculturist Office, the Barangay Local Government Units (BLGU), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

SAAD Region 11 also tapped the Barangay Agricultural Extension Workers (BAEW) to closely monitor the project on the ground. ###

Writer: Jake Darren Colina, SAAD Region 11 Area Coordinator II

Photo Source: DA-SAAD RFO 11