MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL, May 26 2021 – Forty-five farmers in Don Victoriano are set to receive from the Department of Agriculture-Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program’s Strawberry Production Project this 3rd quarter to support the existing production in the area.

These farmers have an existing five hectares (ha) of strawberry production and they are planning to add 1-2 ha when the intervention from the program will be delivered.

The beneficiaries were profiled and their farms were also validated on May 26.

Don Victoriano was added in 2020 as one of the covered municipalities in the Misamis Occidental with a poverty incidence of 59.10% – the highest in the province, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2015.

A total of Php 771,000 worth of strawberry seedlings, knapsack sprayer, plastic mulch, shovel, seedling tray, garden net, plastic drum, sprinkler, and polyethylene (PE) bags will be delivered.

Municipal Agriculturist Nylvyn Tugano expressed his gratitude towards the implementation of the program in the municipality.

“I think the program (SAAD) will pave the way for other agencies to recognize that Don Victoriano has the potential to grow and become famous for its unique sceneries and resources. With the program’s timely implementation here, I hope that one day our farmers, especially the beneficiaries, will be considered as one of the top producing high value crop farmers in the region.”

With its unspoiled land, the town is situated in the highlands with conducive climatic conditions suited to high value crops such as strawberries, potatoes, cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower production. ###

Writer: Ruth Esther Bermundo, SAAD Normin Information Officer