ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, November 25, 2020 – The Department of Agriculture (DA) Region 9 trained 60 members of the Nacibac Mountainside Farmers Association (FA) to successfully manage Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) projects on coffee production and free-range native chicken raising.

Following proper distancing protocol under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ), DA 9 High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) expert George Vallente and Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) livestock technician Danilo Busca shared their knowledge in a one-day training in Barangay Nacibag, Leon Postigo – an End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) area.

Mr. Vallente discussed topics on the establishment, care and maintenance of coffee plantation, and harvest & post-harvest operations while Mr. Busca shared his knowledge on native chicken raising and management.

Training, seminars and workshops are part of the Social Preparation Component of the SAAD Program. It intends to capacitate the farmers in managing the SAAD livelihood projects, developing them into sustainable community enterprises.

About the association

In 2020, the DA-SAAD Zamboanga del Norte allotted a budget of Php 438,190 for Nacibac Mountainside FA’s Coffee Production Project.

About 6,666 coffee seedlings (C. arabica) (Php 40 per seedling) and 60 bags of complete fertilizers (Php 1,667 per bag) were delivered, which are suited for six hectares (ha). Each 1-ha land located in different sites in the barangay was managed as a group (communal).

Meanwhile, SAAD Area Coordinator Marisol Opinio disclosed that the farmers will receive the Native Chicken Production Project instead of the proposed Swine Raising Project because of the risk for the hogs in acquiring the African Swine Fever (ASF).

The association is scheduled to receive chicken and feeds from the said project worth Php 157,800 on December 4.

Nacibac barangay captain Joyji Geromo gratefully shared, “Our community considers farming as their way of living since we are located in a very marginalized area and providing us these projects is also providing us an opportunity to improve our source of income and attain economic growth in our barangay.”

The DA-SAAD Region 9 commits to continuously reach out to the underserved farmers from the marginalized areas in Zamboanga del Norte and Sulu, providing them the assistance to uplift their way of life. ###

Writer:                Aimee Lou Madjus, Information Officer- SAAD Zamboanga del Norte
Copy-editor:      Natalianne Marie O. Delos Reyes, PR and Comms Officer-SAAD NPMO