OCCIDENTAL MINDORO, August 1, 2022 – The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program trained an all-women and youth farmer groups for Ready-to-Lay (RTL) chicken egg production on July 19-22, 2022 to ensure preparedness before receiving egg production packages scheduled around August, 2022.

Thirty (30) all-women farmers from Samahan ng Madiskarteng Kababaihan Farmers Association (SAMAKAFA) and 30 youth farmers from The Chick Zone FA underwent training on cultural management of RTL chicken which includes proper feeding and management of ready-to-lay chicken spearheaded by Dr. Anthony John Rebong and Dr. Kristofferson Gonzales from the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian.

An on-site visit to Paluenos Chicken Laying Farmers Association (PaCLayFA), an established SAAD community-based enterprise involved in RTL chicken egg production, was conducted, showcasing the actual weighing and sorting of eggs, chicken feeding, and cleaning of RTL housing. This is an attempt to duplicate best practices of the PaCLayFA for effective operations.

(For more information on PaCLayFA, visit https://saad.da.gov.ph/2022/03/eggs-ploring-womens-potential-paclayfas-booming-egg-production-in-paluan)

Ms. Lilibeth Gonzales, chairperson of PaCLayFA, emphasized the importance of sorting eggs to maximize income from their production, “Mahalagang i-sort ninyo ang mga itlog nang tama para mapresyuhan ninyo nang tama ang mga produced ninyong itlog at hindi kayo malugi” (Sorting of eggs is important so you can price them right and avoid underpricing).

On the other hand, Mr. Marlon Lopez demonstrated ways of maintaining his stocks such as using rice hulls as deodorizers for chicken manure, thorough and on-schedule cleaning of the water tank and food trays, and establishing an eating schedule to ensure the health of the RTL chicken.

Municipal Agriculturist Julia Amodia shared that tapping the youth to be SAAD beneficiaries aims to spark their interest in agriculture and prepare them to be agripreneurs in the future.

“Masaya po kaming napili [na maging beneficiary] ng SAAD at maka-attend ng training para matuto rin kami saka para alam namin ang gagawin kapag naibigay na ‘yung para sa amin” (We are happy to be chosen as SAAD beneficiaries and be able to attend the training to learn so we will know what to do when we receive the project intended for us), a beneficiary from The Chick Zone FA shared during the training.

Both associations will be receiving 10 sets of RTL chicken cages, 410 head of Dekalb white chicken, vitamins, biologics, and feeds from SAAD in August 2022.

SAAD prioritizes empowering farmers, especially those who are intersectionally marginalized including the rural women and youth by equipping them with knowledge and skills prior to receiving livelihood interventions. This will somehow ensure the success of their projects if the application of learning is religiously applied. As for the program’s part, SAAD OccMin will continue to conduct technical and training support to assist the beneficiaries with their immediate on-field production needs. ###

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

Sources: Jhonzell G. Panganiban, SAAD Area Coordinator – Paluan,

Wily Adrian E. Vergara, SAAD Area Coordinator – Abra de Ilog