NEGROS ORIENTAL, June 24, 2022 – The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development Program (DA-SAAD) delivered additional inputs support to two farmers’ associations (FA) in Santa Catalina, Negros Oriental under the FY 2022 Support to Banana (Lakatan) Production project.

The 50-member San Miguel Farm Family Association (SMFFA) and the 25-member Buenavista Farm Family Association (BFFA) are banana farmers in Negros Oriental who mostly plant cardava bananas. To increase production and diversify the FAs’ produce, the local government unit (LGU) of Santa Catalina partnered with the SAAD Program for procurement of lakatan plantlets since the demand and price for this variety is higher compared to cardava.

Based on the production age of the lakatan variety, the plantlets will start bearing fruits at the 15th month from the time it was planted. The inputs provided by the program will cover SMFFA’s 1.46 hectare (ha) and BFFA’s 0.87ha banana plantations.

The FY 2022 Support to Banana (Lakatan) Production Project has a total project cost of Php 1,120,500 (Php 1,079,500 for inputs, and Php 41,000 for training) for the said two FAs.

Table 1. Inputs under FY 2022 Support to Banana (Lakatan) Production Project

Lowell Caballero SMFFA President, expressed his gratitude to the program. “Nalipay ko ug dako sa pala nga naabot, dako kaayo ni ug kagamitan sa among pagpananum sa saging. In behalf sa akong mga kauban, nagpasalamat ko sa programa sa training nga ilang gi pangulohan ni adtong 2021 nga nakatabang gayod kanamo sa pagsugod sa pagpananum sa saging nga gihatag diri kanamo,” he shared.

(I am very happy that SAAD’s promise has arrived. This shovel is a huge help for us in planting bananas. On behalf of the members of our association, I would like to thank SAAD for providing us with training on banana production in 2021. It has helped us improve and grow the banana seedlings we received from the program).

Initial Intervention

SMFFA and BFFA received a specialized training on banana production conducted by SAAD Region 7 staff on May 11–14, 2021.

In October 2021, the interventions for the FY 2021 Banana Production worth Php 1,016,760 (Table 2) were distributed to the FAs.  The two FAs utilized a combined 2.33ha land banana plantation and expect harvest between January to October 2023.

Table 2. Inputs received by two FAs under FY 2021 Banana Production

Farm tools included in the additional interventions are expected to enhance work efficiency and overall productivity. Looking forward, the two FAs will also receive training on banana processing and marketing to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed to start community-based enterprises. ###

Writer: Jolina T. Daño, Information Officer I
Source: Erwin Jr. A. Leyva, Sta. Catalina Area Coordinator