SARANGANI, September 1, 2021 – The Lumigo-Cogon Farmer’s Association (LCFA) with 133 members from Glan, Sarangani accumulated Php 29,565 gross income from their vegetable production from January to August 2021. The income was reported during the two-day celebration of the group’s second anniversary from August 25 to 26.

LCFA is a recipient of the Department of Agriculture-Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program’s Integrated Upland Rice with Vegetable Production, Livestock, and Postharvest Project of FY 2021.

The group received 200 bags of upland rice seeds, 400 bottles of foliar fertilizer, 8 collapsible dryers (30 bags capacity), 200 hermetic storage bags (69 kilograms’ capacity), 20 knapsack sprayers, four rice threshers with complete accessories, four mini rice mills (single pass), 100 drums, 300 packs of open-pollinated variety pinakbet seeds (50 grams/pack), 100 shovels, 100 bolos, 100 hand trowels, and a horse. All interventions amount to Php 1,046,500.

Prior to the distribution of farm inputs, the group was equipped with Production Training on Upland Rice, Vegetable, and Livestock.

From 48 members in 2019, the group is now 133. They are divided into five subgroups (at least 26 members each) that were formed to advocate support and cooperation rather than individual pursuit. Each group is cultivating 7,500 square meters’ communal garden for vegetable production.

Vegetable Production

Each subgroup planted the vegetable seeds in the second week of January and started to harvest in the fourth week of March.

From January to August 2021, they recorded a profit of Php 29,565 from selling their vegetable produce such as eggplant, sitaw, okra, capsicum, green chili, upo, radish, tomatoes, bitter gourd, carrots, and chayote. They also cultivated high-value crops like lettuce, cabbage, and Chinese cabbage (Table 1).  The money they earned will be spent for projects that the association will agree on.Table 1. LCFA’s Vegetable Production Income

Upland Rice Production

The group’s upland rice is not yet planted due to the risk of rodent infestation. During the trial conducted by the LCFA officers in July to test the seed germination and adaptability in the area, the samples were all eaten by the rodents.

To avoid further losses, the 25 members of the association who are recipients of the upland rice, decided to plant the seeds in each 1-hectare production area once the rodents vanish through the constant application of pesticides. The infestation started in 2020 causing physical damage to almost every crop.

Livestock

The group received one horse which helps them in product hauling and tillage. The stock is also open for hauling rental even to non-members.

On August 9, the horse bore its first offspring, a young stallion. Each subgroup members take turns in taking care of it.

During the event

In the harvesting activity orchestrated by SAAD Sarangani, Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPAg), and the Office of the Municipal Agriculture (OMAg), the LCFA handpicked their produce in haste before sunrise at 5am in the morning in Sitio Lumigo, E.Alegado, Glan, Sarangani.

The event blessed by Pastor Dante Cabat was attended by the staff from SAAD Sarangani, OPAg, OMAg, and members of LCFA.

In the evening, a bible service was conducted by Pastor Garcia together with the LCFA band followed by several performances and testimonies from the farmers on how the association and SAAD-OMAg interventions affected their livelihood. ###

Writer: Naire Junas Demello, SAAD Sarangani Area Coordinator
Copy Editor: Jennifer Valcobero, SAAD National Public Relation and Comms Offier