OCCIDENTAL MINDORO, July 11, 2022 – The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program MIMAROPA region conducts its 2nd-3rd Quarter Coordination and Assessment meeting for FY 2022 in Magsaysay, Occidental Mindoro on July 5-6, 2022 aiming to fortify existing farmer-groups and develop newly-organized associations in SAAD expansion areas in Sablayan and Calintaan.

Engr. Elmer T. Ferry, SAAD MIMAROPA focal person shared a few essential points discussed during the closed-door meeting with the new DA Secretary, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. which includes intensifying support for livestock particularly for controlling African Swine Fever (ASF) cases, and boosting production of basic commodities such as corn for food security.

In support of the DA Chief’s instruction, schedule of training on cultural management for swine production, corn and high value crops production in July and August 2022 for various FAs in the province were announced to capacitate the farmers with their SAAD livelihood projects.

Prioritizing efficient production and sustainability through linkage expansion, Area Coordinators were advised to assist the existing farmers’ associations (FAs) in creating a harvest calendar to effectively coordinate commodity harvests with the DA-Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) to build market connections. DA-AMAD links FAs with potential markets through fair trades such as KADIWA and direct contact with bulk-buyers. This method is expected to ensure the farmers’ income after harvest, which they can use for expenses and means to sustain their production.

The Program’s municipal linkages provide assistance with project monitoring and training or extension service, while SAAD regional and provincial staff are in-charge of planning, delivering interventions, and monitoring and evaluating livelihood projects awarded to beneficiaries.

For improved coordination, SAAD MIMAROPA adopts a blended mode where representatives from the Municipal Agriculture Office of SAAD-covered municipalities, as well as SAAD regional and provincial staff participate via zoom and face-to-face meetings. This is a careful transition as the agency waits for health situation development for full capacity assembly. ###

Writer: Dianne Francis A. Sy, DA-SAAD MIMAROPA Information Officer