SORSOGON, August 24, 2021 – Fifty farmers in Sorsogon received Php 1,124,000 worth of poultry inputs from the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program as start-up capital for the Egg Production Project in Matnog and Sta. Magdalena.
The SAAD Program conducted two separate turnover ceremonies for the distribution of 800 free-range chickens with the assistance of the municipal local government units (LGU) who welcomed the DA’s project for their constituents through technical and logistics support.
On August 5, DA-SAAD handed over 400 free-range Kabir chickens (two months old) to the 20 members of Hidhid Farmers’ Association.
Supplementary materials such as chicken feeds, feeders, drinkers, net screens, and biologics were also provided to complete the livelihood package. The group will raise the poultry in a 1,000 square meters communal area.
During the ceremony, Municipal Agricultural Officer (MAO) Emmanuel De Guzman, expressed his support for the SAAD initiatives. He said, “Naimod ko na danison ining proyekto na ini lalo na sa lugar palang asin urupudan, talagang mauswag ini. Kaming mga tawo sa gobyerno, yaon lang kami para mag gabay saindo. Nagpapasalamat kami sa SAAD Program dahil kami ay maswerte na saro sa mga natawan kaining mga manok na siguradong makadanon san saato kabuhayan.”
On August 11, the San Eugenio Animal Farmers’ Association consisting of 30 members also received 400 free-range chickens with feeds, feeders, drinkers, net screens, and biologics reared in the farmers’ own areas.
“Kung dadanunan ta anay an saato sadiri, diri niyo aram na dadanunan naman niyo an iyo kagrupo nan organisasyon kay nagbabatog talaga an pag-uswag sa ato sadiri,” Sta. Magdalena MAO Myra Escarda shared.
San Eugenio Animal Farmers’ Association chairperson Ronaldo Favor expressed his gratitude to the SAAD Program.
“Sana pirmi kita magkasararo asin magdaranunan para sa ikauunlad kan ato manokan san ato asosasyon. Sa SAAD, daghan salamat dahil maswerte kita na kita an napili na mahatagan sin manok kaya atamanon ta ini san mayad hanggang sa dumaghan asin mag uswag,” Ronaldo said.
According to SAAD Provincial Coordinator Mary Rose Detera, the two farmers’ associations were selected as beneficiaries of the Egg Production Project because of their areas’ suitability for chicken raising and the group’s capacity to manage their livelihood.
The groups are committed to sustaining their livelihood project and assigned tasks for the members. It included monitoring of the stock to ensure the good health of the animals and avoid possible mortality, regular cleaning of housing, and preparing fermented plant juice and fermented fruit juice as a food supplement for the chickens weekly.
Prior to the input distribution, the SAAD Sorsogon team conducted basic training for poultry production in partnership with the LGU and MAO.
The chickens are expected to lay eggs by December. The groups are planning to supply eggs in their localities. ###
Writers:
Pauline Trixia D. Borja, SAAD Sorsogon Information Officer
Angelica A. Blanco, SAAD RPMSO Information Officer
Sources:
Mary Rose Detera, Sorsogon Provincial Coordinator
Arnel Venus, SAAD Area Coordinator for Matnog
Aizel Grefalda, SAAD Area Coordinator for Sta. Magdalena
Photo Sources: SAAD Program Sorsogon
