MALAYBALAY CITY, Bukidnon, February 12, 2021 – Thirty associations and 855 farmers in 15 municipalities of Bukidnon received Php 10.6 million worth of agricultural livelihood interventions from the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William “Manong Willie” Dar led the turnover ceremony during the One DA Turnover of Agricultural Interventions in Northern Mindanao, which is a joint distribution between DA Region 10 and Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHILMECH) 10 held at the Folk Arts Theater, Kaamulan Ground, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

The said interventions were funded under SAAD FY 2020 budget appropriation. From the total grant, Php 7.2 million was allocated for farm mechanization and livelihood projects, while the Php 3.4 million was granted as part of SAAD’s CoViD-19 assistance to the farmers in Bukidnon.

The beneficiaries received the following farm machineries and equipment, gardening tools and materials, farm inputs, as well as drugs and biologics:

a) 3 units of mobile rice mill
b) 4 units of power tiller pull-type with trailer
c) 5 units of hand tractor/multi-crop cultivator
d) 5 units of corn husker/sheller
e) 9 units of multi-purpose grinder
f) 75 bags urea fertilizer
g) 169 units of wound spray
h) 180 units of water drum (plastic)
i) 180 units of knapsack sprayer
j) 234 bags of upland rice seeds
k) 273 sachets of antibacterial for cattle, goat, poultry
l) 275 bags of OPV corn seeds
m) 310 boxes of electrolytes+dextrose+nutrient+celycine
n) 315 packs of vitamin A, D, E
o) 324 bags of complete fertilizer
p) 563 bags of sweet corn seeds
q) 2,159 bags of organic fertilizer
r) 6,050 packs of 5-in-1 OPV vegetable seeds

In his message, Sec. Dar underscored the effects of the emerging health crisis to the agriculture sectors, consequentially encouraging the farmers in Bukidnon to help the government in addressing the problems and challenges at hand.

“We want to work with you to see to it that the farmers and fisherfolk, together with the agripreneurs will now make the possibility in unlocking the agriculture potentials at the rural areas,” Sec. Dar said.

“Tutulungan po ninyo ang Kagawaran ng Pagsasaka upang sa ganun kayong mga magsasaka ay magkaroon ng masaganang ani at mataas na kita,” added Sec. Dar.

(You will help the Department of Agriculture so that you as farmers will achieve abundant harvest and high income.)

Sec. Dar also urged the farmers to cooperate with the DA in its campaign against the African Swine Fever (ASF) to protect Northern Mindanao’s hog industry.

“The national and local governments should work hand in hand (to restrain the ASF) and implement strict biodiversity and quarantine measures,” Sec. Dar promoted as he commended the provincial government of Bukidnon for its remarkable efforts in keeping the province free from the ASF.

Sec. Dar also led the launching of the Babay ASF or Bantay ASF sa Barangay during the event.

Governor Jose Maria R. Zubiri, Jr. received the turnover of intervention certificate from SAAD and other programs of DA 10.

Present during the event were Congressmen Jonathan Keith T. Flores and Rogelio P. Roque, Municipal and City Mayors of the different LGUs in Bukidnon, Municipal and City Agriculturists, and Presidents of the different Farmer’s Associations and Cooperatives in the province.

In the DA 10, present were Regional Executive Director, Carlene C. Collado, Regional Technical Director for Operations, Carlota S. Madriaga, SAAD 10 Focal Person, Audy Maagad, SAAD Head Secretariat, Lana May S. Racines, and SAAD staff.

Bukidnon was included in the SAAD Program of the DA in 2018. Since then, the program has already implemented Php 49.8 million worth of agri-livelihood projects to eradicate poverty incidence in the province.

This year, the program will implement various enterprising projects to further capacitate its beneficiaries to venture into agri-enterprising activities. ###

Writer: Ruth Esther Bermundo, SAAD 10 Information Officer
Source of Photos: DA and SAAD 10