ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA, May 30, 2023 – Farmer groups in three (3) provinces of Zamboanga Peninsula receive commodity production and management training, entering the second core component – Food Production and Livelihood (FPL) of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 2.

Held from April 11 to May 23, 2023, the specialized training sessions are aimed at equipping beneficiaries in production and management of livelihood projects on rice, corn, banana, livestock and poultry projects prior to distribution. Simultaneous localized sessions were attended by 420 farmers belonging to 16 groups  from 16 SAAD-covered municipalities.

Participants from the three (3) covered provinces: Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Zamboanga del Norte were introduced to proper agricultural practices and livestock management, led by five (5) SAAD implementers from the Provincial Program Management Support Office (PPMSO) and Regional Program Management Support Office (RPMSO), and 15 agricultural technicians from Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAOs).

Prior to training, SAAD Zamboanga Peninsula completed its beneficiary needs assessment (BNA) in 20 municipalities last February 14-23, 2023. The report revealed that the beneficiaries’ main livelihood depends on farming while also engaging in other income-generating activities such as driving tricycles, and laborers. The BNA floated the need to provide free farming inputs including seeds and fertilizers to jumpstart farm production and ensure quality produce.

As a result, various production projects such as peanut, banana, rice and corn were proposed since these farmers grow and manage said commodities on an estimated 250 hectare consolidated area. Primary direction of the BNA process is to extract feasible activities of the groups that will later on can allow them to transform their livelihood into agricultural enterprises in the community. Through the Food Production and Livelihood Provision component and specialized training sub-component, the FA are guided to develop crops and value-added products out of their commodities.

For FY 2023, SAAD Zamboanga Peninsula will receive crop projects such as corn, rice and high value, as well as livestock projects such as cattle, carabao and goat worth Php 57,640,000. There are 20 groups targeted for the current, giving access to 540 beneficiaries in the most marginalized communities in the region.

Writer: Aimee Lou D. Madjus, DA-SAAD Region 9 Information Officer

Sources:
https://saad.da.gov.ph/2023/04/da-saad-zampen-completes-bna-for-20-fas-profiles-540-farmers-to-receive-agri-projects
SAAD 9 Area Coordinators
Jerol Amado, SAAD FPL Unit, RPMSO
Alejandre Cordova, SAAD SPPM Unit, RPMSO