BUTUAN CITY, January 20, 2023 – In the course of strengthening the database system management, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Caraga introduced the utilization of new farmers’ profiling form and close linkage with the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) for Phase 2 implementation.

RSBSA is a registration system for farmers, fishermen, and farm laborers to create a database of necessary information to be used as a targeted tool for the identification of recipients of various government programs and services relating to agriculture. Some DA inputs and financial assistance require RSBSA registration, although, SAAD Program Phase 1 did not require beneficiaries to be registered. Moving to Phase 2, the program will now require enlistment, and will endorse identified unregistered beneficiaries to the said registry system.

During the SAAD NPMO initiated Information and Technology (IT) assessment attended by IT officers and staff from all SAAD-covered regions in November 2022, a SAAD-crafted profiling form will be filled up prior to endorsement of beneficiaries to the RSBSA.

The orientation among DA and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) staff on January 11 tackled the objectives of RSBSA and its components: Profiling of Farmers and Fishers, Geo-referencing of Farm Lots, and Interventions Monitoring System.

RSBSA Regional Coordinator Hazel Colinares and technical staff served as resource persons. They discussed the profiling and updating procedures, basic requirements and qualifications, and the regional encoding process upon form completion and endorsement by City/Municipal Agriculture Offices (C/MAOs).

Farmers, farm laborers, fisherfolk, and agri-youth (young farmers between 12-30 years old) are qualified to register at their respective C/MAOs.

SAAD Community Development Officers will lead the profiling of its beneficiaries, reaching unregistered farmers and extending potential government support aside from SAAD interventions.

SAAD-Caraga Phase 2 will cover 14 municipalities in Agusan del Norte: Remedios T. Romualdez; Surigao del Sur: Tagana-an, Sison, Malimono, Alegria, General Luna, Del Carmen, San Isidro, San Benito, Pilar, and Santa Monica; and Dinagat Islands: Dinagat, Libjo, and Tubajon.

From the said municipalities, 28 farmers’ associations with at least 700 members will be profiled and registered. ###

Writer: Mark Angelo Pineda, DA-SAAD Caraga Associate Project Officer