OCCIDENTAL MINDORO, March 17, 2021 – Indigenous People (IP) farmers from the Buhid and Hanunuo-Mangyan communities, both identified End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) areas, received a goat production package worth Php 612,800.
The Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) distributed the project which aims to engage local community members in agricultural activities for livelihood support.
Samahang Buhid at Hanunuo of Brgy. Naibuan (SBNH) farmers’ association were given 40 improved native goats (doe) worth Php 306,400, while another 40 were awarded to Ilya, Taganop, Masay, Mantay, at Sangay Farmer’s Association (ITaMMaSa FA) in Brgy. Monteclaro valued at Php 306,400. The bucks or male goats will also be awarded to ensure reproduction of quality goats.
The delivery of the interventions was in collaboration with the Provincial Government Office of Occidental Mindoro, Municipal Local Government Unit (LGU), and Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO) of San Jose together with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). The ceremonies were assisted by the Philippine Army 4th Infantry Battalion, and 2nd Infantry Division.
Aside from rain-fed upland farming, the goat production project is a supplementary livelihood resource provided by SAAD aimed at engaging IP farmers in Naibuan and Monteclaro in animal production.
Brgy. Monteclaro, especially the sitios where the beneficiaries reside, are ideal pasture areas for animal raising such as goats, carabaos, and cows.
The MAO had given the beneficiaries technical briefings last January 2021 to help and inform them on how to raise the goats properly.
“Malaking bagay ang maitutulong ng kambing na naibigay ng SAAD. Paparamihin namin ang mga kambing nang sa gayon ay hindi lamang ang mga miyembro ang matutulungan nito, kundi pati na rin ang mga karatig sitio. Malaki ang pasasalamat namin sa SAAD at sa ating gobyerno sa pagtulong nila sa amin upang kami ay umunlad,” said Angelito E. Ero, Chairperson of SBHN and Ubos L. Balitang, Chairperson of ITaMMaSA FA.
The Goat Production Project of the program is seen to give the IP farmers opportunities to earn more by targeting the local market as goat meat is valued at Php 300 to Php 350 per kilogram.
The SBHN was established in 2019 with 29 IP members, while ITaMMaSa FA was established in 2020 with 40 IP members. The project is in line with peace-promoting initiatives to harness economic growth among the locals in the identified ELCAC areas. ###
Writer: Dianne Francis A. Sy, SAAD Region 4B Information Officer I
Sources: Jercel Catubig, SAAD Area Coordinator – San Jose, Vilmar Robes, SAAD Area Coordinator – Magsaysay, Mario Paz, SAAD Area Coordinator – Rizal
