APAYAO, August 24, 2021– The Department of Agriculture (DA) – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program in Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) turned over 800 Muscovy ducks to 70 poultry raisers from three farmers’ cooperatives and associations in Kabugao, Apayao.

The poultry inputs consist of 110 male and 700 female Muscovy ducks, complemented with layer and grower feeds. The interventions provided are under the SAAD’s Duck Production Project worth Php 917,500.

According to SAAD Community Development Officer Bernadette Daggay, backyard poultry raising is popular in Apayao. Its contribution to the status of small rural folks is commonly considered vital since it only requires low maintenance.

Moreover, duck production allows beneficiaries to achieve income stability since its meat and egg produce is profitable. Compared to small and large ruminants such as pigs and cows, poultry raising is more manageable since it requires a low cost of production but it yields a higher income return.

Before the project was implemented, community consultation was conducted in December 2020. Bernadette said that the locals preferred duck production since beneficiaries had their background experience in terms of duck raising.

“Dagituy nga beneficiaries ket dati dan agtar-taraken iti duck…Idi community consultation, iti kinuna da ket ada dati dan nga taraken nga at least 5-8 heads nga duck idi saan pay isuda nga beneficiaries iti SAAD program.  Napadas dan iti benepisyo nga maited na etuy nga stock nga napintas nga pagrugyanan nu sika ket nakurapay. Isu nga isuda mismo nangi suggest idi community consultation,” shared Bernadette.

[Our beneficiaries are previous duck raisers. During the community consultation, these farmers shared that each of them owned at least 5-8 ducks before they became official beneficiaries of the program. Because of their good experience, these beneficiaries proposed a duck production project in said consultation.]

Project Implementation

Beneficiaries from Luttucuan Farmers Association with 25 members, Productive SAAD Farmer’s Association with 20 members, and the Success Laco Farmer’s Association with 25 members each received at least 11 ducks with two bags of layer feeds and a bag of grower feeds.

SAAD Apayao Project Development Officer Shermyn Pecban said, “Daytoy nga pato nga naited iti SAAD ket taraknen yu nga nalaing, bilang adda pagkay-kaysa nan ga association. Tungpalen yu iti policy nga nagtutung-tungan tayo… Practicin tayo iti adda bookkeeping na tapnon ma-monitor tayu nga nalaing iti impact na kadakayu habang rugrugyan yu iti agbalin nga agrirepreneur. Sa pela kuma ta kalpasan etuy nga tawen, ket addan ton iti communal duck production yu.”

[This intervention that was entrusted to you must be taken cared of. And by doing that, unity is needed. I hope that you will be well-guided by your agreed policy. To begin your journey as duck raisers, I hope that you will practice proper record keeping, I hope that you will be able to establish your communal duck production in the upcoming year.]

According to Pecban during community consultations, beneficiaries said locals preferred to buy ducks because it is primarily raised for producing balut, a local delicacy in the town with its meat considered as a nutritious source of protein.

Ensuring enterprise opportunities for the farmers, the Municipal Local Government Unit of Kabugao and the SAAD field implementers are coordinating with different livelihood channels for potential egg supply needs and duck marketing in the community.

To ensure sustainability of the project, the groups’ first-in-line beneficiaries agreed to surrender 50 ducklings to establish a communal duck production venture.

Luttucuan Farmers Association president Ferdigon Tahiyam shared his gratitude to the program. “Ako’y taos pusong nagpapasalamat sa programa ng SAAD sa lahat ng tulong na patuloy niyong binibigay. Dahil sa program na ito ay maraming magsasakasa ang nabigyan ng opurtunidad… Sa aming pagtanggap at pagsisimula ng panibagong proyekto sa Duck Production Project, nais kong magpasalamat… Nawa’y mas marami pa kayong matulungan na magsasaka,” he said.

[I would like to express my gratitude to the SAAD Program for giving us unending support. Because of the special program, many farmers were given livelihood opportunities. To begin our journey with the Duck Production Project, I would like to extend my thanks. I hope that you reach and help more farmers.]

Likewise, Productive SAAD Farmer’s Association president Casin Basan thanked SAAD. He said, “Agyaman kami iti SAAD program kadetuy naited nga pagrugyanan mi. Babaen kadetuy nga intervention kayat min to nga agbalin nga supplier iti duck dituy ili mi.” 

[Big thanks to the SAAD program for giving us the opportunity to begin as duck raisers. We, as an association, aim to become a duck supplier in our municipality.]

DA-SAAD will continue to provide technical assistance through provisions of antibiotics and vitamins to ensure the health of the ducks. ###

 

Writer: Kathleen Faye B. Agonoy, Information Officer, SAAD Apayao