NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, March 23, 2022 – Barangay Bandila Canubgan Farmers’ Association (BBCFA) gained Php 27,510.20 net income in six months operation of the Chicken Layer Egg Production Project provided by the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program under FY 2021.
According to BBCFA chairperson Jelly Agabon, their egg production in Barangay Bandila, Toboso, Negros Occidental started to pick up after a month of managing the project. The chicken steadily laid eggs in October 2021 and their production went on full swing by December 2021. They were able to harvest at least three to four trays of eggs per day and sold their produce to two retail stores in neighboring villages.
Table 1. BBCFA’s Egg Production Harvest from September 2021 to February 2022
Agabon recognized the livelihood project as a big help for both the members and consumers.
“Salamat kaayo sa Chicken Layer Egg Production Project sa SAAD. Dili lang mga amuang miyembro ang nakadawat og tabang sa proyekto apan usab na ang amuang komunidad pinaagi sa fresh ug nutritious nga itlog,” she said.
(Thank you very much for the Chicken Layer Egg Production Project of SAAD. Not only did our members benefit from the project but our community as well through the provision of fresh and nutritious eggs.)
About BBCFA
Barangay Bandila Canubgan Farmers’ Association is the namesake of Sitio Canubgan, Barangay Bandila in Toboso. Said sitio is about seven kilometers from the town proper with hills and little valleys in between.
Rice and corn production are their main sources of income while other locals grow crops such as banana, cassava, sugarcane, and root crops.
In early 2021, BBCFA officials joined a consultation of the DA-SAAD through the Municipal Agriculture Office. With the increasing demand of eggs in Toboso and in the entire province of Negros Occidental amid the pandemic, the group proposed the Chicken Egg Laying Production Project.
The group envisioned the poultry project not just a source of fresh food but also as a potential enterprise that could augment the income of BBCFA members who are heavily dependent on farming.
In September 2021, DA-SAAD Western Visayas turned over 240 ready-to-lay (RTL) pullets with one-month supply of feeds, biologics, complete set of cages, feeders, and waterers among other inputs.
Table 2. Interventions for the Chicken Layer Egg Production Project of BBCFA
Two months prior to the official distribution of the RTL pullets, DA-SAAD Western Visayas facilitated the training on layer chicken raising to prepare the beneficiaries on proper poultry management.
The group agreed to place the chicken in a communal farm and take turns in its maintenance instead of rearing the poultry individually at home. Through hard work and labor, the BBCFA built a housing facility to protect their poultry from extreme weather conditions and natural predators such as snakes and wild cats.
Two members maintain the poultry farm per day, ensuring health and safety of the animals, as well as perform cleaning and repairs. The scheduling strategy promotes participation and familiarity with animal management among the members.
Agabon cited that at the beginning of the project there were four mortalities recorded among their laying hens due to respiratory illness. This was addressed through immediate isolation of the sick chicken and constant provision of vitamins.
To make their production more efficient, the members utilized the egg weighing scale provided by the DA-SAAD. A tray of small eggs is sold at Php 180, medium eggs at Php 190, large eggs at Php 200, extra-large eggs at Php 210, and jumbo eggs at Php 230.
BBCFA envisions their group as the top producer of eggs not just in their barangay but in the municipality of Toboso and even in neighboring towns.
They are looking forward to expanding their production by procuring RTL pullets to replace the older hens. They are likewise planning to sell their chicken dung as fertilizers to residents practicing backyard gardening.
To intensify the positive and consistent outcome of their livelihood project, the association plans to establish a poultry store where they could trade chicken feeds and other poultry supplies. ###
Writer: Christ John Gamarcha, Information Officer, DA-SAAD Region 6
