DAVAO DE ORO, June 4, 2021 – The Department of Agriculture-Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program distributed 240 upgraded native chickens to 28 Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA) farmers of Brgy. San Isidro, Nabunturan.
The needs-based interventions cost around Php 240,000, which were provided to San Isidro Farmers Association (SIFA).
The group received the chickens weighing 1-2 kilograms (kg) each alongside 16 sacks of feeds and various biologics.
With more than a hundred members, SIFA elected 28 members to receive the poultry individually. Each beneficiary received 6 upgraded chickens (5 pullets, 1 cockerel), 20kg of feeds, a sachet of multivitamins, antibiotics, and dewormer.
Other members are poised to be given incoming 2021 SAAD projects such as upgraded goat and banana production.
They are set to receive another 34 sacks of feeds, 30 pieces of waterer, and a staggered issuance of biologics to be distributed in the months of July and August.
“Magpasalamat ta sa SAAD program kay kita gihatagan ug livelihood program nga manok (We are thankful for SAAD program for they’ve given us this livelihood program in the form of chickens),” SIFA chairperson Evelyn Labadan said.
In her acceptance speech, she encouraged fellow farmers to strive to make the project last. “Ato gyud ning atimanon ug pag-ayo. Katong gitudlo sa atoa, atong tumanon kung unsaon nato pag-atiman para mudaghan ning mga manok (Let’s take good care of this. The training they gave to us—let’s implement how to properly care for the chickens so that they’ll multiply).”
SIFA is one of the few local farmers’ associations (FA) in Nabunturan endorsed by the local government unit to SAAD Region 11.
The remaining 72 poultry were put in an open communal area with a 2×2 meters coop for shelter. Once the cockerels turn into hens and start laying eggs, the association plans to distribute the first batch of chicks to members.
“Kaning atong chicken program is para madugangan ang panginabuhian sa atoang mag-uuma (Our chicken program is aimed to augment the livelihood of our farmers), Naomi Lamata, SAAD Region 11 Focal Person said.
She urged SIFA farmers to make the most of the implements. “Ato ning padaghanon kay ang mga programa sa gobyerno, gipaabot jud sa inyoha (Let’s make the most out of this, as the government’s program reaches to you.)
Former Nabunturan Mayor and current Second District board member Macario Humol attended the program, saying “Dako kaayo ni nga hagit para sa atoa nga ato jud ning ayuhon (This is a big challenge for us to take good care of this project).”
“Nasayod ko nga ang isa sa mga problema ani sa umaabot puhon, kanang unsaon nato ni pagpadayon ug pakaon. Pero naa tay mga area diri nga pwede nato tanoman ug mais. Unya…naa na tay gitukod dinha pinaagi sa PRDP, katong feed mill nga ibutang sa barangay Linda (I know that one of the challenges that we will have in the future with this project is how to sustain feeding the poultry. But we already have areas here that we can plant corn. Then, we also have a feed mill to be built through PRDP in Brgy. Linda),” he added.
SAAD Region 11, alongside Nabunturan’s Municipal Agriculturist Office, conducted capacity training to beneficiaries in San Isidro prior to distributing the implements. It included disseminating knowledge on poultry’s organic food sources to lessen the purchase of commercial feeds.
For the entire upgraded native chicken project, SAAD Region 11 allocated Php 3.3 million across 14 barangays in 9 municipalities of the province. ###
Writer: James Brian R. Flaga, SAAD RPMSO 11 Information Officer
Source: DA-SAAD Davao de Oro
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