ANTIQUE, June 23, 2022 – To aid and increase the productivity of peanut and vegetable growers, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) granted 35 caracows to 10 farmers associations’ (FAs) in Valderrama on June 17.
The large ruminants worth Php 1,396,000 is in support to their FY 2020 Peanut Production and FY 2021 Corn Production projects. Prior to said distribution, these 10 FAs also received plows and harrows on May 18 to help them maximize production levels, cut down production costs, and achieve easier corn and peanut land preparation and cultivation.
Although the associations gear towards farm mechanization and modernization, terrain/landscape in the production areas are mountainous with a steep slope which limits the machineries’ function; therefore, the recipients proposed for ruminants who play a pivotal role in helping small and large-scale farmers alike.
Deemed valuable in sustainable agricultural systems and nutritional security, draft animals contribute to ease of land preparation and cultivation, thus, the caracows delivered – aged not less than 2 years but not more than 5 years, weighs not less than 300kg, fit for breeding, dewormed and vaccinated- will be utilized by the recipients for draft purposes.
Relative to this, the associations will undergo training on caracow raising to capacitate the farmers and update their knowledge on raising the livestock for draft purposes.Table 1. Caracow recipients from Valderrama
| FAs | Barangay | Caracows received (head) | Project Cost (Php) |
Project |
| Barangay Takas Farmers Association (BTFA) |
Takas | 5 | 199,425.00 | In Support to FY 2021 Corn Production |
| Takas Imbangga-an Tangke Irrigators Association (TITIA) |
Takas | 5 | 199,425.00 | |
| Mambudan Valderrama Irrigators Association |
Takas | 5 | 199,425.00 | |
| Katiringban kang Magagmay nga Mangunguma sa Buluangan II kag Sitio Dugman (KMMB2D) |
Buluangan II | 2 | 79,770.00 | In Support to 2020 Peanut Production |
| Katiringban kang Mangunguma sa Pandanan Multipurpose Cooperative (KAMPA) |
2 | 79,770.00 | ||
| Borocboroc, Manlacbo, Bunsod, Lublub Farmers Association (BMBLFA) |
Manlacbo | 4 | 159,540.00 | |
| Lublub Fresh Vegetable Noodle Maker Association (LFVNMA) |
Lublub | 4 | 159,540.00 | |
| Manlacbo Farmers Association (MFA) |
Manlacbo | 3 | 119,655.00 | |
| Tigmamale Agrarian Reform Cooperative (TARC) |
Tigmamale | 3 | 119,655.00 | |
| Nabuyong Lublub Farmers Association (NALUFA) |
Lublub | 2 | 79,770.00 | |
| Total | 35 | 1,396,000.00 |
Romualdo Bangcaya, President of Mambudan Valderrama IA, shared: “Kami sa Mambudan IA, nagapasalamat gid tungod nangin parte kami sang programa kang SAAD. Sa nabaton namon nga mga karbaw, may imaw ni nga arado, suyod kag binhi kang mais. Ini nakabulig gid sa pagsinarayo namon sa pang adlaw-adlaw.”
(We, the Mambudan IA, are thankful because we became part of the SAAD program. We received carabaos, coupled with plow, harrow and corn seeds. These inputs helped us in our daily endeavours).
Read Valderrama FAs status of peanut and corn production here https://saad.da.gov.ph/2022/06/php-2-2m-worth-of-saad-interventions-delivered-to-821-antique-farmers.
Under the corn project, TITIA will receive one unit of a corn mill and corn mill, BTFA 1 corn mill, and Mambudan Valderrama 1 corn sheller. Meanwhile, MFA, BMBLFA, KMMB2D, KAMPA, and LFVNMA with peanut production projects already received a set of seven pumps and motors on March 30.
Antique, one of the two provinces in Western Visayas chosen as SAAD beneficiary, started its implementation in 2019 with Laua-an and San Remigio as focused municipalities. Valderrama and Bugasong were later added in 2020 and 2022 respectively to the pool of beneficiaries granted with agricultural inputs to further bolster their rice, corn, vegetable, livestock and poultry production. ###
Writer: Cedie Bataga, DA-SAAD 6 Information Officer
