COTABATO, February 23, 2022 – Small ruminants, carabao, hybrid corn seeds, and pinakbet seeds were provided to 10 farmers’ associations (FA) from Carmen, Kabacan, Libungan, Pigcawayan, and Midsayap, Cotabato by the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture Region 12 on February 21 and 23.
Cadiis and Kapanapakan FAs (50 members) received 28 goats (16 does, 2 bucks) which they will raise for meat and milk production. This project is under the FY 2021 Goat Production Project worth Php 190,400.
Under the Carabao Dispersal Project (Php 81,600), Makabangon Langon FA (25 members) received three carabaos which they will use for land preparation and hauling of their mixed-crop harvests.
Bangilan FA (91 members) received the Php 161,599.60 Corn Production Project which included 40 bags of hybrid corn seeds, to be cultivated in the group’s consolidated area of 20 hectares.
Meanwhile, 6 groups (175 members) of vegetable growers received pinakbet seeds which will be grown in each member’s 200 square meters of backyard area. Each pack of mixed seeds includes ampalaya, squash, okra, eggplant, sitao, and tomato.
Table 1. Interventions received by the 10 Cotabato FAs
| Farmers’ Association | Location | Intervention received | Project Title | Project Cost (Php) |
| Manuangan FA (25 members) |
Manuangan, Pigcawayan | 125 packs of pinakbet seeds | Vegetable Production | 18, 466.25 |
| Abaga FA (25 members) |
Abaga, Libungan | 40 packs of pinakbetseeds | Vegetable Production | 5,909.20 |
| Malingen FA (25 members) |
Malingen, Libungan | 40 packs of pinakbet seeds | Vegetable Production | 5,909.20 |
| Kiloyao FA (25 members) |
Kiloyao, Libungan | 45 packs of pinakbet seeds | Vegetable Production | 6,647.85 |
| Midsayap Vegetable Growers Producers and Process FA (25 members) |
Kimagango, Lower Glad 1, Central Glad 1, Bual, Midsayap | 63 packs of pinakbet seeds | Vegetable production | 9,306.99 |
| Barangay Nalin Rural Improvement Club (25 members) |
Nalin, Midsayap | 62 packs of pinakbet seeds | Vegetable production | 9,159.26 |
| Makabangon Langon FA (25 members) |
Kayaga, Kabacan | 3 carabaos | Carabao Dispersal | 81,600.00 |
| Cadiis FA (25 members) |
Cadiis, Carmen | 14 native goats (13 does, 1 buck) | Goat Production | 95,200.00 |
| Kapanapakan FA (25 members) | Bentangan, Carmen | 14 native goats (13 does, 1 buck) | Goat Production | 95,200.00 |
| Bangilan FA (90 members) |
Bangilan, Kabacan | 40 bags of hybrid corn seeds (GM) 9kg/bag | Corn Production | 161,599.60 |
| Total | 470,532.10 |
Mr. Mojahid S. Macalipat, president of Makabangon Langon FA, shared how grateful they are to be the recipients of SAAD’s carabao dispersal project.
“Taos-puso po kaming nagpapasalamat sa DA-SAAD 12 sa tulong na naiabot nila sa aming asosasyon, napakalaking tulong po nito sa pang-araw-araw naming pamumuhay. Isa po ito sa paraan upang kami ay makabangon mula sa pagkalugmok na dulot ng pandemya. Naway pagpalain po kayo ng Allah. Maraming salamat po,” Mr. Macalipat said.
(We are sincerely grateful to DA-SAAD 12 for the help they have extended to our association, it has been a huge help in our daily lives. This is one of the solutions for us to recover from the sudden crisis for farmers because of the pandemic. May Allah bless you. Thank you very much.)
The simultaneous distributions were facilitated by SAAD Cotabato Team Leader Jocelyn C. Sugabo and provincial staff.
Present in the activity were Pigcawayan Mayor Jean Dino Roquero, Municipal Agriculturist (MA) Ma. Luisa Bueno, Libungan acting MA Teresita Testado, Kabacan MA Tessie M. Nidoy, and Carmen MA Gregorio Pulido Jr.
Writers:
Aisa L. Tina, SAAD Region 12 Information Officer
Jennifer A. Valcobero, SAAD NPMO Public Relation and Communications Officer
