The Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 10 expanded its agricultural services in Northern Mindanao by adding 6 other towns for 2020 onwards.

With the expansion, the program is anticipated to aid another 665 poorest of the poor farmers, increasing the total farming constituents to 3,452 individuals. The farmer-beneficiaries were profiled and validated in 2019 and earlier this 2020.

The municipalities of Aloran and Don Victoriano Chiongbian in Misamis Occidental; Magsaysay and Munai in Lanao del Norte; and Lantapan and Sumilao in Bukidnon join the existing 24 LGU beneficiary.

The SAAD-implementing local government units (LGUs) are identified based on the 2015 Philippine Statistics Authority’s official poverty records among families, which are 34.4% for Aloran, 59.1% for Don Victoriano Chiongbian, 57.1% for Magsaysay, 56.3% for Munai, 48.3% for Lantapan, and 43% for Sumilao.

Upon intent and commitment by the local executives, towns with the highest poverty incidence are favored for inclusion to the program.

As a special program of the Department of Agriculture, SAAD aims to uplift the lives of poor farmers in Northern Mindanao. The program provides to capacitate farmers and enabling agricultural interventions to develop them as modern-day enterprising farmers.

Depending on the LGUs’ technical assistance on the preparation of project proposal, the beneficiaries are due to receive agri-livelihood projects such as rice, corn, and vegetable production. ###

Writer: Azbie Talib, SAAD Region 10, Information Officer