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
