SORSOGON, April 21, 2023 – To recognize the valuable efforts of the implementers and partners in Phase 1, the Special Area for Agricultural Development – Public Relations and Development Communication (SAAD-PRDC) team from the  National Program Management Office (NPMO) will visit all established community-based enterprises (CBEs) in the 11 implementing units during the Program’s initial phase from 2017 to 2022. This is to feature experiences and practices behind the operations of the established agribusinesses which will be documented and published in a visual medium – a coffee table book.

The end goal of the program is anchored on its last core component which is to usher farmer groups to marketing and enterprise development in hopes of sustaining livelihood even after SAAD Phase 1 ends in 2022. 

Seven (7) farmers associations’ (FAs) in Pilar, Juban, Magallanes, Donsol, and Matnog, Sorsogon engaged in rice and corn production will be documented. These are the, 1) Vinisitahan Indigenous People Farmer’s Association (PIBFA), 2) Naspi Agricultural Worker’s Association (NAWA), 3) Dapdap Farmer’s Association, 4) Caditaan Farmer’s Association, 5) Añog Corn Farmer’s Association, 6) EMTUCABI Farmer’s Association, and 7) Bon-ot Big Farmer’s Association. 

For sustainability of agribusiness operations, groups were officially turned over to their respective local government units (LGUs) in the last quarter of 2022 until the first quarter of 2023 with recognition of vegetable production milestones from the High-Value Crops Development (HVCD) Program. 

In between the interviews, Sorsogon Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer (APCO) Roser Rebellon also discussed with the farmers what they could do and what requirements are needed to link them to the Department of Agriculture’s banner programs to receive further agricultural support. 

Mr. Pedro Oliver, OIC-Superintendent of Sorsogon Dairy Production and Technology Center of DA also introduced new projects that the farmers can explore from their rice commodity such as oyster mushroom production – to reuse rice straws instead of burning them. Training is also open for access to the farmers. 

In terms of marketing, the beneficiaries are encouraged to display their products every SM Sunday Market – an activity initiated by the DA in partnership with the SM City Sorsogon.

DA-SAAD hopes to immortalize the stories and progress that can be replicated by other programs and projects by highlighting the narratives and good practices that will serve as an inspiration to existing farmers in the area.

Unlad Lokal is a coffee table book that will be released this year in two (2) volumes. This will include a large collection of images and descriptions about the groups’ community-based enterprises including their origins, milestones, and relevant experiences. ###

Writer: Jennifer Valcobero, DA-SAAD NPMO PRDC Staff

Photos by:
DA-SAAD Region 5
Allanes Bagoso, DA-SAAD NPMO PRDC Staff