SURIGAO DEL NORTE, May 25, 2023 – Improving Surigao del Norte farmers’ knowledge and skills before project turnover, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program introduced egg layer production and management to 142 farmers through a series of training in Tagana-an and General Luna.

The participating farmers from the five (5) newly formed SAAD-assisted groups learned about considerations and strategies in layer production, particularly on housing setup, feeding, lighting, and treating common diseases.

Table 1. Participating Farmers’ Associations (FAs)

Following the completion of lectures, the farmers participated in farm visits.

Resource persons included Jane H. Asilom of the Municipal Agriculture Office-Tagana-an, Ms. Jessica G. Naniong-Rosete, DVM, and Festrus Truman M. Beltran of the Provincial Veterinary Office-SDN.

Ms. Asilom reported that per Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Caraga Region produced 10,913 metric tons (MT) of chicken eggs in 2022, 12th among all regions in the country with CALABARZON as the top producer recording 224,422 MT.

Moreover, Surigao del Norte marked a -85.3% drop in the Annual Growth Rate in egg production, with only 30 MT in 2022 compared to 202 MT in 2021, the least among five (5) provinces in Caraga. According to MAO Asilom, this poses a challenge for the farmers to contribute to boosting egg production in the province.

Each of the five (5) FAs will receive a package of layer production projects from the program this year worth Php 583,350.00 with inputs such as 192 ready-to-lay pullets (4 modules), feeds, egg trays, and drugs and biologics.

The training forms part of the preparatory activities designed for the groups to manage their projects well.###

Writer: Mark Angelo Pineda, DA-SAAD Caraga Regional Information Officer