CARAGA, July 20, 2023 – Nineteen (19) farmers associations assisted by the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 1 in Caraga were turned over to respective local government units of Agusan del Sur and Surigao Del Sur to continue agricultural development of beneficiaries.
Formally capping off its Phase 1 implementation, on June 27 and July 6, 2023, the turnover between the municipalities of Rosario, Veruela in Agusan del Sur, and Bislig City and Lingig in Surigao Del Sur signified the end of SAAD implementation in its two priority provinces in Caraga.
Following the turnover, City and Municipal Agriculture Offices will lead direct monitoring of the farmers’ groups and livelihood projects. DA Agricultural Program Coordinating Offices in ADS and SDS will also conduct progress monitoring of the FAs for technical assistance and potential support from DA banner programs and related agencies.
Projects obtained by the FAs ranged from crops (rice, abaca, and cacao) to livestock and poultry production (native chicken and goat) with an actual cumulative cost of Php 51,572,582.50, which benefited 478 farmers from FY 2019 to 2022.Table 1. SAAD Phase 1 FAs turned over to partner LGUs
|
Province |
Municipality | FA | Livelihood Projects |
Cost |
| Agusan del Sur | Rosario | Buenasuerte Cosep Farmers Association | Cacao Production | 1,256,575.32 |
| Cosep People’s Organization (COPO) | Abaca and Native Chicken Production | 6,356,901.56 | ||
| Masabong Sinayugan Farmers Association (MASIFA) | Cacao Production | 2,974,369.43 | ||
| Ocao Farmers Association (OFA) | Rice Production | 2,759,879.75 | ||
| Veruela | Caigangan Abaca Farmers’ Association (CAFA) | Abaca and Native Chicken Production | 7,760,451.51 | |
| Candiis SAAD Farmers’ Association (CASFA) | Cacao, Chicken, and Banana Production | 6,831,043.38 | ||
| Surigao del Sur | Bislig City | Burbuanan Native Chicken Raisers Association (BurNatChiRA) | Native Chicken Production | 1,868,552.17 |
| Chicken Raisers Association of Burbuanan (CRAB) | Native Chicken Production | 2,257,428.11 | ||
| Goat Raisers Association of Mabog (GRAM) | Goat and Corn Production | 2,331,558.47 | ||
| Goat Raisers Association of Sitio Sanyata (GRASS) | Goat, Cassava, and Vegetable Production | 1,170,917.28 | ||
| Sote Bayabas Farmers Association (SOBAFA) | Goat and Ginger Production | 979,879.74 | ||
| Lingig | Lumad sa Bogak Farmers Association | Goat Production | 1,117,993.83 | |
| Mendizona United Farmers Association | Native Chicken Production | 2,254,545.70 | ||
| Napanpanan United Farmers Association | Goat Production | 1,043,708.83 | ||
| North Mecaopee Farmers Association | Goat Production | 1,389,611.52 | ||
| Pamian Timberland Farmers Association | Native Chicken Production | 1,768,239.58 | ||
| Pinanapatan Farmers Association | Goat and Corn Production | 2,610,840.52 | ||
| Rajah Cabungsuan Farmers Association | Native Chicken Production | 2,283,661.70 | ||
| Tubod Upland Farmers Association | Native Chicken Production | 2,556,424.10 | ||
| Total | 51,572,582.50 | |||
As of FY 2022, all FAs in SDS have become suppliers of eggs, live chickens, and goats in their communities. Caigangan Abaca Farmers’ Association, and Cosep People’s Organization in ADS, as well, are already producing abaca fibers from the SAAD-funded abaca plantation. Some members of the said FAs had existing plantations before SAAD’s assistance.
Of the 19, the Program declared the Goat Raisers’ Association of Mabog (GRAM) among the eight (8) partially established community-based enterprises (CBEs) in Caraga as regular suppliers of live goats in their community.
Earlier, SDS Provincial Agriculturist Marcos M. Quico, in his message during the turnover in Bislig City on July 6, assured the farmers’ groups of the Provincial Agriculture Office’s support to the 22 farmers’ groups turned over by the Program in SDS. The PAO committed technical assistance and support by recommending project proposals deemed necessary by the groups and the City and Municipal Agriculture Offices to the DA Regional Office.
On June 21 and 23, 2023, the Program also turned over 13 FAs to LGU-Talacogon and San Luis in ADS; and Carmen and Bayabas in SDS. From the batch, seven (7) have partially established community-based enterprises (CBEs), mainly producing and consolidating abaca fibers and supplying eggs, native chicken, and goats in their respective municipalities. ###
Writer: Mark Angelo C. Pineda, DA-SAAD Caraga Information Officer
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