CATANDUANES, October 14, 2022 – To provide the farmers with additional means of income through poultry livelihood management and enterprise building, 220 beneficiaries from 11 farmers associations (FAs) received Php 3,992,800.05 worth of interventions from the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program’s Chicken Production and Enterprise Development Project.
The DA-SAAD Program provides easy yield projects integrated with medium and long term ones so the beneficiaries can source out additional income or food source while waiting for the projects that yield longer. The said farmers are engaged in abaca farming and fishing as their primary livelihood.
During the community needs assessment conducted by the program’s regional office, the FAs suggested chicken production interventions because they already have experience with poultry-raising and they believe it could give them additional income. The members of the FAs also have sufficient area for taking care of the stocks. Likewise, consultation with their barangays and local government units were sought.
In June 2022, prior to receiving the interventions, the FAs underwent training on Poultry Production Management to strengthen their skills and capabilities in poultry-raising. The activity was conducted through the collaborative efforts of the SAAD Regional Program Management Support Office (RMPSO) and the Provincial Program Management Office (PPMO) in coordination with the concerned Local Government Units (LGUs).
Two months after, nine Catanduanes FAs namely Cabuyoan Native Chicken Association, Balatohan Chicken Raisers Association, Biong Goat Association, Sioron Canlobe Goat Raisers Association, Kilikilhan Poultry Raisers Association, Cagraray Duck Raisers Association, Tobrehon Poultry Raisers Association, Suchan Chicken Raisers Association, and San Miguel Duck Raisers Association received agricultural inputs under SAAD’s Chicken Production package amounting to Php 377,466.67 per group.
Table 1. Breakdown of cost of Chicken Production Package interventions received by each FA*a set of animal drugs and biologics is purchased for all FAs in the province, and is divided and distributed upon request of farmers.
Note: Unit cost is based on the PDP, while actual cost may varyMeanwhile, the San Marcos Poultry Raisers Association and the San Miguel Poultry Raisers Association were given inputs under the Chicken Production and Enterprise Development package amounting to Php 297,800 per group, which includes the same aforementioned interventions without the cages but with additional materials needed for enterprise establishment such as various kitchen supplies and equipment.
Table 2. Breakdown of Chicken Production and Enterprise Development Package by each FANote: Unit cost is based on the PDP, while actual cost may varyThe program provided the interventions to 11 FAs from the municipalities of Bagamanoc, Baras, Bato, Gigmoto, Panganiban and San Miguel in August 9, 2022.
Table 3. List of FAs who received poultry projectsThe said RTLs are in mature age for egg production thus, in a short period of time, farmers are expected to harvest and gain income from the project.
Meanwhile, Mr. Sanito Tapar, President of San Marcos Poultry Raisers Association expressed his message to DA-SAAD, “Sa karahayan na itinao nindo samuya, boot kong maaraman nindo sa ngaran kan buong asociacion na ini dakulang tabang saamong aro-aldaw na pagkabuhay. Gapasalamat kami! Lugod an SAAD maghalawig pa asin dakol pang matabangan na nangangaipo.”
(On behalf of our association, we would like to thank SAAD for the kindness they have shown us. It is a big help in our everyday lives and we are thankful for it. We hope for the program’s continued success so that more people in need can be reached.)
The associations plan to focus on the project entrusted to them by the DA-SAAD. In the coming months, they plan to sell eggs in their respective barangays and markets. Establishment of community-based enterprises is being eyed once the production arises. ###
Writer: Jovinel M. Gianan, DA-SAAD Catanduanes Information Officer
Sources: Efren Tablizo, Jr., DA-SAAD Catanduanes Area Coordinator
Photo Source: Jovinel M. Gianan, DA-SAAD Catanduanes Information Officer
