SURIGAO DEL SUR, April 13, 2022 – Thirty-two (32) farmers’ associations (FAs) assisted by the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Caraga participated in a week-long stakeholders’ consultation meeting held in San Francisco, Agusan del Sur from April 4 to 5 and Tandag City, Surigao del Sur from April 7 to 8.
Sixty-four representatives from the 32-assisted associations of the Program participated in the activity. They come from the eight priority cities and municipalities of the program, which include Rosario, San Luis, Talacogon, and Veruela in Agusan del Sur; and Bayabas, Carmen, Lingig, and Bislig City in Surigao del Sur.Table 1. Participating FAs in the DA-SAAD stakeholder’s consultation
| Province | City/ Municipality |
Farmers’ Association | No. Members (as of 2021) |
| Agusan del Sur | San Luis | Cecelia Abaca and Corn Planters FA | 100 |
| Muritula USAD FA | 80 | ||
| Talacogon | Culiram SAAD Abaca FA | 66 | |
| Desamparados SAAD Cacao FA | 45 | ||
| Rosario | Buenaswerte Cosep FA | 10 | |
| Cosep Peoples’ Organization (COPO) | 40 | ||
| MasabongSinayugan FA | 20 | ||
| Ocao FA | 30 | ||
| Veruela | Caigangan Abaca FA | 50 | |
| Candiis SAAD Cacao FA | 54 | ||
| Surigao del Sur | Bayabas | Balete Chicken Growers Association | 31 |
| Cabugo Chicken Production Association | 20 | ||
| Riverside Panaosawon FA | 35 | ||
| P-7 Panaosawon FA | 32 | ||
| Bislig City | Burboanon Native Chicken Raisers Association (BurNatChiCa) | 20 | |
| Chicken Raisers Association of Burboanon (CRAB) | 20 | ||
| Goat Raisers Association of Mabog (GRAM) | 20 | ||
| Goat Raisers Association of Sitio Sanyata (GRASS) | 20 | ||
| SOTE Bayabas FA | 20 | ||
| Carmen | Antao Swine Raisers Association | 23 | |
| Cancavan Corn Growers Association (CCGA) | 21 | ||
| Gacub Agricultural FA (GAFA) | 27 | ||
| Mag-uumang Manobo sa Hinapoyan Association (MAMASAHI) | 98 | ||
| Nagkahiusang Katawhang Mag-uuma sa Tabinas (NAKAMATA) | 50 | ||
| North Mecaopee FA | 19 | ||
| Lingig | Lumad sa Bogac FA | 29 | |
| Mendizona United FA | 17 | ||
| Napanpanan United FA | 20 | ||
| Pamian Timberland FA | 20 | ||
| Pinanapatan FA | 20 | ||
| Rajah Cabung-suan FA | 20 | ||
| Tubod Upland FA | 28 | ||
| Total | 1105 | ||
These 1,105 FA members are engaged in poultry and crop production projects (high-value and industrial) provided by SAAD from 2019 to 2022. At present, the majority of these groups are already generating additional income from selling poultry products (live weight chicken, eggs, and chicks), raw and value-added ube and camote products, and high-quality abaca fibers, among others.
With the assistance of the SAAD staff, all 32 FAs developed a sustainability plan for their livelihood projects in the succeeding years, following the program’s input support ending this 2022. The plan was drafted in line with the results of the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis.
DA Agriculture Center Chiefs Ma. Teresa C. Espenido (Agusan del Sur) and June Anthony S. Ouano (Surigao del Sur) facilitated the workshop.
Regional Technical Director for Operations Rebecca R. Atega introduced the OneDA Framework and encouraged the FAs to organize into clusters and pursue becoming cooperatives to access additional support from the DA banner programs and attached agencies.
The sustainability plan of the FAs includes funding proposals for relevant farm machines and facilities, especially for rice farmers. Technical support, such as training and forums, was also included to continue developing their management and entrepreneurial skills.
Realizing the advantage of organizational strengthening, most of the FAs also aim to register as cooperatives to access additional support from other DA and attached agencies.
Since the SAAD Program Phase 1 (FY 2019-2022) is culminating this year, the meeting was among the preparatory activities designed to help secure the sustainability of the projects before turning them over to the local government units in 2023. ###
Writer: Mark Angelo Pineda, Information Officer DA-SAAD Caraga
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