ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, June 21, 2021 – Sto. Niño Farmers Association president Roni Suma from Gutalac, Zamboanga del Norte expects to harvest 750-1,000 kilograms (kg) of open pollinated variety (OPV) corn from his ½-hectare (ha) farm by July after a visit conducted by the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) provincial team.
SAAD Provincial Coordinator Ronillo Dusaban spearheaded the activity to monitor the Corn Production Project provided in the area.
Mr. Suma said that he opted to store his harvest for their own consumption but if he chose to sell the crops, he can sell it as bigas or corn grits for Php 32/kg.
In 2020, he received 10kg OPV white corn (Php 450), one bag of 50kg ammonium phosphate (Php 1,195), and one bag of 50kg urea (Php 1,095).
“The program has facilitated in making our lives more convenient. Every input given to us is heaven-sent. We no longer have to spend our money on inputs such as seeds and fertilizers because they gave it to us,” he claimed.
Mr. Suma also disclosed that to sustain activities of the association (100 members), they agreed to return Php 500 to the association after their every other harvest. To date, they now have Php 48,000. Likewise, the inputs provided are good for only one cropping, the members keep the seeds from the previous harvest to be used for the next cropping season.
Before the DA-SAAD came into existence, Mr. Suma said that they cannot afford to buy fertilizers for their corn which resulted in poor quality of harvest.
“We are very grateful for the packaged inputs. We can finally apply fertilizers to our farm and I can tell that the result is way better than before,” he added.
The DA-SAAD in Zamboanga del Norte continues in facilitating change to the lives of the poorest of the poor farmers. Sto. Niño FA, among other groups, who were once helpless and hopeless have now turned into empowered farmers. ###
Writer: Aimee Lou D. Madjus, Information Officer- DA-SAAD Zamboanga del Norte
Copy-editor: Natalianne Marie O. Delos Reyes, PR and Communications Officer, SAAD NPMO
