DAVAO DE ORO, DECEMBER 17, 2020 – The Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Davao de Oro completed its upgraded goat production project for FY 2020 through its final delivery in the municipality of Laak.

With the program’s culmination, a total of 628 Anglo-Nubian native and Boer native upgraded goats and five goat sheds were distributed to 289 farmers from 7 associations in 7 municipalities. For 2020, Php 5.4 million was allotted for the said program.

Upgraded goat production was an intervention program identified for the province based on the area’s suitability for goat rearing. The goats distributed were offspring from either an Anglo-Nubian or Boer buck and a native doe.

In the program’s final distribution, a total 45 farmers from Brgy. Aguinaldo – Aguinaldo Farmers Association (15 members); Brgy. Ceboleda – Ceboleda Upland Farmers Association (15 members); and Brgy. Kiokmay – Kiokmay Farmers Association (15 members) each received two upgraded goats, with a goat shed containing three pens for each barangay.

The ongoing pandemic put a hamper on the program’s distribution, but as restrictions eased in the last three months of the year, deliveries began.

“We’ve done early procurements last year, but because of the pandemic, our funds were recast…changed for the Bayanihan Act,” Naomi Lamata, SAAD Region 11 focal person noted. “Our procurements (referring to goats and other components for the program) finally pushed through in September.”

Asked how she felt about the completion of the project amid the pandemic, Ms. Lamata said: “Bisan ingon ana ang nahitabo, at least na-complete nato siya…although naa tay mga adjustments na gihimo…very happy kay na-implement nato ang dapat ma-implement this year—nahatag nato ang dapat mahatag labi na jud katong sa atong mga beneficiaries sa goat production. (Despite what happened, at least we were able to complete it…although we had to do some adjustments…very happy because we were able to implement what was needed to be implemented this year—we were able to give what’s due especially to the beneficiaries of the goat production).”

Alongside the distributed goat, SAAD Region 11 also worked hand-in-hand with Good Neighbors, International—a humanitarian non-government organization with a vision of making the world a place without hunger, among other developmental efforts.

Good Neighbors distributed chickens, vegetable seed packets, and biologics amounting to Php 29,785.00 to Aguinaldo Farmers Association (AGFA) farmers. To supplement the upgraded goats given by SAAD, the NGO also spent Php 48,912.00 for goat raising support in a one-time public-private partnership.

“We do augment the forces and influence the LGU in terms of development projects,” emphasized Felomina Arroyo, Field Manager for Good Neighbors, in her message to AGFA farmers. “To sustain and to help and augment the lives of our sponsored families is our income generation program where our livelihood sustainable programs enter the picture…like today, very particular with the SAAD project, our plan of action was anchored on the upgraded goat production,” she added.

“Mapasalamaton mi nga kani nga programa naabot ra jud. Wa jud mi nag-expect nga karong tuiga, makuha namo ang mga kanding ug mahuman ning ilang balay, pero nahitabo jud siya (We are thankful that this program finally pushed through. We did not expect that this year we’ll get the goats as well as finish their shed, but it really happened.),” Jimmy Corderos, chairperson of Ceboleda Upland Farmer Organization, emphatically said in his response message on SAAD’s delivery.

Referring to the goats, Benjamin Lisera of Kiokmay Farmers Association added, “Amo kining ampingan. Ug akong hagit sa akong mga ka-asosasyon nga kami mangusog para mudaghan ang mga kanding (We are going to take care of this. And my challenge to my peers is that we must be on top of everything for the goats to multiply)”.

Identified as the pioneering province for SAAD Region 11, Davao de Oro recorded a 22% poverty incidence among families in 2015. For FY 2020, 17 barangays from the municipalities of Compostela, Laak, Mabini, Maco, Maragusan, Monkayo, and New Bataan benefited from the intervention. ###

Writer: James Brian R. Flaga, SAAD RPMSO 11 Information Officer

Source: DA-SAAD Davao de Oro