About Masagana Farmer’s Association
The Masagana Farmer’s Association (MFA), established in March 2022, is composed of corn farmers (20) in barangay Barangiran, Alamada, Cotabato. They mostly rely on hybrid corn cultivation as their source of income, each with one-hectare production area.
To sustain their livelihood, they borrow funds to purchase production inputs from local cooperatives and traders with an agreed interest of up to 10%. In this system, the farmer usually is left with money just enough to make ends meet, while they remain in debt to provide for extra needs.
Prior to their inclusion in the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program, these corn farmers organized as one association and was endorsed by their local government unit (LGU) to receive the program’s Hybrid Corn with Vegetable Production and Postharvest Support Project worth Php 649,999.60.
Project implementation
Project inputs provided to the group include 40 bags of hybrid corn seeds (good for one cropping) corn sheller, and corn mill, simultaneously distributed in March, June, and July.
The MFA members promptly planted the maize seeds upon receipt, and after nearly four months, in July 2022, the group harvested the crop listing 1,036 sacks of corn cobs – equivalent to 88,401 kilograms (kg). Corn cobs are valued in the market at Php 21-22/kg. With this, they earned a gross income of Php 2,146,654.50, where each member received Php 107,000.
After deducting their expenses from operations and maintenance, these individuals had an average take-home of Php 47,300 (Table 1).
Table 1. MFA’s consolidated income from hybrid corn production
| Members | No. of Sacks Harvested | Total Harvest (kg) |
Price (kg) |
Gross Income (Php) |
Total Expenses (Php) |
Net Income (Php) |
| Leopoldo Empleo | 48 | 4,560 | 21.00 | 95,760.00 | 49,750.00 | 46,010.00 |
| Rosalie Dela Serna | 50 | 4,900 | 21.50 | 105,350.00 | 51,000.00 | 54,350.00 |
| Jean Devepeña | 50 | 4, 680 | 21.50 | 99,975.00 | 49,750.00 | 50,225.00 |
| Dante Dela Serna | 49 | 4,655 | 21.50 | 100,082.50 | 49,800.00 | 50,225.50 |
| Aileen Carcillar | 55 | 4,560 | 21.50 | 98,040.00 | 54,300.00 | 43,743.00 |
| Susan Ansenia | 54 | 5,346 | 22.00 | 117,612.00 | 52,000.00 | 65,612.00 |
| Marlo Roquero | 48 | 4,464 | 21.50 | 95,976.00 | 51,500.00 | 44,476.00 |
| Allan Samillano | 49 | 4,704 | 21.50 | 101,136.00 | 52,300.00 | 48,836.00 |
| Edison Plaina | 50 | 4,750 | 21.50 | 152,125.00 | 52,100.00 | 50,025.00 |
| Merlyn Tobias | 51 | 4,845 | 21.50 | 104,167.00 | 52,500.00 | 51, 667.50 |
| Roselyn Mariano | 60 | 5,580 | 21.00 | 117,180.00 | 55,000.00 | 62,180.00 |
| Richard Roquero | 50 | 4,500 | 21.00 | 94,500.00 | 53,000.00 | 41,500.00 |
| Michelle Perante | 55 | 5,335 | 21.50 | 114,702.00 | 53,200.00 | 61,502.50 |
| Alfred Devedina | 47 | 4,465 | 21.50 | 95,997.50 | 52,800.00 | 43,197.50 |
| Arlene Fuentes | 52 | 4,940 | 21.50 | 106,210.00 | 53,000.00 | 53,210.00 |
| Jinelyn Cabangal | 50 | 4,750 | 21.50 | 102,125.00 | 53,950.00 | 48,225.00 |
| Elvie Nocillar | 58 | 5, 684 | 21.50 | 122,206.00 | 55,000.00 | 67,206.00 |
| Jocelyn Cagud | 51 | 5,692 | 21.50 | 100,878.00 | 54,000.00 | 46,878.00 |
| Ariel Gonsales | 53 | 5,035 | 21.50 | 108,252.50 | 54,000.00 | 54,252.50 |
| Reynold Roquero | 56 | 5,320 | 21.50 | 114,380.00 | 55,800.00 | 58,580.00 |
| Total | 1,036 | 88,401 | 2,146,654.50 | 1,000,450.00 | 946,491.00 |
With the current status of their production, the group members no longer rely on borrowing money to pay for their purchases of fertilizer and seeds. They also managed to set aside 20% of their yield for food consumption.
Tatay Leopoldo Empleo, MFA president, shared how the project financially helped his family.
“Malipayon kayo mi tanang miyembro sa asosasyon, tungod sa kadako sa blessing sa Ginoo nga iyahang gihatag sa amoa pinaagi sa SAAD. Tungod sa hinabang gikan sa SAAD, kami nga mga miyembro sa asosasyon naka-angkon og ingon ani kadako nga kita. Unta daghan pa mo matabangan nga mga mang-uuma nga naglisod sa kinabuhi, pareha namo,” said Tatay Empleo.
(All of us members of the association are very happy because of this big blessing from God through SAAD. Because of the assistance from SAAD, we were able to earn a high income. We hope that you will assist more struggling farmers like us).
Sustainability effort
For sustainability, each member is required to return Php 1,000 to the group for each cropping cycle. The money shall go to their savings to pay for the establishment of a machinery shed and to purchase maize seeds and fertilizer for the next cropping. ###
Writer: Jennifer A. Valcobero, DA-SAAD NPMO Information Officer
Source: Aisa L. Tina, DA-SAAD 12 Information Officer
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