BUTUAN CITY, August 26, 2021—Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program Director Myer G. Mula joined the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to assess the program implementation in Caraga (Region 13).

DA-SAAD Deputy Focal Person Jekem D. Sanchez and BFAR Assistant Regional Director Edgardo P. Balambao presented the accomplishments of the program in the agriculture and fishery sectors as of mid-2021 in Butuan on August 23.

Among the accomplishments reported by the agriculture sector was the conduct of 27 crop and animal management training in the first half of 2021. The program also identified 8 farmers’ groups to become established agripreneurs by 2022.

Meanwhile, BFAR-SAAD reported organizing 1,573 fisherfolk into 85 groups as recipients of aquaculture projects and another 192 into 10 associations for capture livelihood projects.

This 2021, the fishery sector is focusing on providing processing tools and equipment, as well as conducting value-adding training to strengthen the processing and marketing endeavors of its beneficiaries.

Director Mula and representatives from the Bureau of Agriculture and Fisheries Standards (BAFS) also conducted a focused group discussion on the Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) participated by select personnel from DA-Caraga Regulatory Division and Organic Agriculture Program.

According to Director Mula, the system is beneficial for associations venturing into organic farming.

Aside from the conduct of the regional meeting, Director Mula’s three-day visit in Caraga from August 23 to 25 is to monitor progress of the four SAAD-assisted farmers and fishers associations from the municipalities of Bayabas and Tago in Surigao del Sur, and Talacogon and San Luis in Agusan del Sur. ###

Writer: Mark Angelo Pineda, Information Officer- DA-SAAD Caraga
Sources: Star Lou Tandungon, Technical Staff- BFAR-Caraga
DA-SAAD Caraga