NORTHERN MINDANAO, July 15, 2021 – As the agriculture sector plays vital part in the nation’s recovery from the effects of the CoViD-19 pandemic, the Special for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program in Northern Mindanao rolled out Php 5.1 million of interventions to establish free-range chicken multiplier farms in 17 towns in Region 10.

A total of 826 farmers from Bukidnon, Lanao del Norte, and Misamis Occidental received 7,200 chickens (Php 4.1 million) to farmers to be raised as breeding stocks, 231 bags of feeds (Php 360,000), 682 boxes of vitamin A, D, and E (Php 81,000), and 862 boxes of electrolytes (Php 517,000) from June 1 to 11.

Table 1. Free-Range Chicken Multiplier Project Recipients

Province	Municipality	Chicken Distributed (heads)	Feeds Provided (bags)	Vitamin A, D, E (boxes)	Electrolytes (boxes)	Total Benefiting Farmers
Bukidnon	Baungon	600	19	35	10	50
	Talakag	600	19	35	50	50
	Sumilao	120	4	–	10	10
	San Fernando	600	19	50	10	50
	Kadingilan	480	15	50	50	50
Lanao del Norte	Linamon	492	16	50	39	20
	Matungao	492	16	20	39	25
	Sapad	492	16	50	39	193
	Nunungan	492	16	50	39	100
	Munai	504	16	50	40	50
Misamis Occidental	Baliangao	336	11	49	106	20
	Concepcion	336	11	42	100	28
	Panaon	336	11	42	100	50
	Aloran	336	11	38	50	27
	Sapang Dalaga	324	10	41	50	54
	Bonifacio	336	11	42	100	21
	Don Victoriano	324	10	38	30	28
Total		7,200	231	682	862	826

The chickens are raised in 8.26 hectares of backyard area or 100 square meters per farmer. Each farmer takes care of 9-12 chickens.

Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, SAAD implemented various CoViD-mitigating livelihood projects which include provision of farm inputs like vegetable seeds, sweet corn seeds, fertilizers, and now the free-range chicken multiplier project.

With the said projects, SAAD aims to augment the beneficiaries’ income and sustain their livelihood as they strive to cope with the new normal in agriculture.

The chickens were about two months old upon delivery. They are expected to lay eggs this August.

The SAAD implementers and the LGUs agreed to explore the possibility of providing the farmers incubator as soon as the breeding stock will start laying eggs as a joint commitment to grow and sustain the project.

 

Writer: Ruth Esther Bermundo, SAAD Normin Information Officer
Copy Editor: Jennifer Valcobero, SAAD NPMO Public Relation and Comms Officer