COTABATO, November 9, 2021 – Eleven farmers’ associations (FAs) with 242 members from Cotabato received 150 Anglo-Nubian goats worth Php 1.3 million to produce meat, milk, and other goat products.

The goats were provided by the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program under the FY 2021 Integrated Rice Production with Livestock and Vegetable Production Project.

The distribution was led by SAAD Region 12 Focal Person Maimona Amil and Deputy Focal Elma Delante, together with the regional and provincial SAAD staff, in Kidapawan, Magpet, Arakan, Midsayap, Pigkawayan, and Antipas on October 29 and November 4.

Aside from the possibility of marketing and earning from the meat, milk, and other goat products, the goats will also help in the removal of weeds in the farm which will lessen the farmers’ usage of harmful herbicides.

Table 1. Cotabato FAs project interventions received

Farmers’ Association	Barangay/Municipality	Intervention Received	Project Cost (Php)
Gasan-Esmar Irrigators Association (15 members)	San Roque, Kidapawan City	15 Does	142,500.00
Bagumbayan FA (25 members)	Bagumbayan, Magpet, Cotabato	13 does, 1 buck	137,000.00
Basak Livelihood for Peace FA (25 members )	Basak, Magpet, Cotabato	12 does, 1 buck	127,500.00
Kulaman Womens’ FA (27 members)	Kulaman, Arakan, Cotabato	25 does, 2 bucks	264,500.00
Lampake FA (50 members)	Pigkawayan, Cotabato	25 does, 2 bucks	264,500.00
Municipal Midsayap FA (50 members)	Midsayap, Cotabato	25 does, 2 bucks	264,500.00
Brgy. Maliri FA (10 members)	Antipas, Cotabato	5 Does	47,500.00
Brgy. Magsaysay FA (10 members)		5 Does, 1 buck	61,000.00
Brgy. Malatap FA (10 members)		5 does	47,500.00
Brgy. Camutan FA (10 member)		5 does	47,500.00
Brgy. Kiyaab FA (10 members)		5 does, 1buck	61,000.00
Total Project Cost	1,309,000.00

“Kami po sa SAAD ay ginagawa po namin ang lahat ng aming makakaya para makatulong sa inyo (mga farmers) at upang mapa-improve pa po namin ang level ng inyong pamumuhay, kaya sana po ay inyong alagaan at palaguin pa ang aming mga nai-aabot na mga tulong sa inyo. Magtulungan po sana tayo para sa ikauunlad ng ating rehiyon,” Maimona B. Amil said during the distribution.

[In SAAD 12, we always do and give our best just to assure that beneficiaries will receive the assistance they need, in our efforts to help them alleviate their living condition. And we ask for your (beneficiaries/farmers) cooperation to please take good care of the interventions that we handed out to you. So that you can upgrade your production, not only for your family but for the entire region.]

One of the beneficiaries in Magpet also expressed his gladness from the assistance provided by SAAD.

“Daghang salamat sa DA 12, ilabi na sa SAAD program, kay dako kaayu ni nga tabang sa amuang panginabuhi,” shared Alexander Bradiya, one of the members of Basak FA.

(We are very thankful for the DA-SAAD 12 for sharing with us their project, for this will give us a big impact in our farming endeavor.) ###

 

Writer: Aisa Tina, SAAD 12 Information Officer