SURIGAO DEL NORTE, August 30, 2023 – Assisting six (6) new farmers’ organizations to establish long-term income sources, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Caraga Region distributed 12,500 banana and 20,915 abaca planting materials and 22 goats to 154 farmers in Surigao del Norte from August 8-10, 2023.

The production inputs are part of the Banana (lakatan), Abaca, and Goat Projects funded by the Program in FY 2023 under its Phase 2 implementation in Malimono, Sison, Alegria, Pilar, and Santa Monica. 

Aside from the inputs, the projects included fertilizers, pesticides, farm tools, and abaca stripping machines for the abaca and banana production projects. Meanwhile, the communal Goat Production included drugs and biologics, forage seeds, forage shredder, and goat housing, delivered in the first half of the year, along with the conduct of preparatory activities under the Social Preparation component of SAAD, such as Beneficiary Needs Assessment (BNA) to ensure projects and interventions provided to FAs are responsive to their needs and suited to their community. 

Organizational Development trainings were also conducted to strengthen the group’s appreciation of the projects and internalize the importance of participation to sustain their operations. Trainings related to their commodities were also conducted from May to June this year to improve their knowledge and skills in establishing the projects and managing their day-to-day operations. 

The Program allocated Php 8,096,190 for the 6 projects in FY 2023 alone. Table 1. Recipient FAs of various SAAD Projects in SDN

*As of August 10, 2023. Partial delivery out of 15,000 pcs target per FA Banana production is not new to the Hanagdong Lakatan Farmers Association (HaLaFA) in Malimono and Tagbayani SAAD Farmers Association (TagSAFA) in Sison. According to members, during the BNA, bananas are commonly grown locally, particularly cardava/sarabia, latundan, and lakatan, which they sell in their local markets. 

On the other hand, members of Biyabid SAAD Farmers Association (BiSAFA) in Sison and San Juan Abaca Farmers Association (SJAFA) in Alegria, recipients of Abaca Production Projects do not have existing abaca plantations, but most have experience with the commodity. SJAFA members, in particular, used to make rope twine out of abaca fibers, which was among their sources of income until the demand for such was overtaken by nylon or plastic ropes. Prospect endeavor of the group with the SAAD-funded project is producing high-quality abaca fibers, which is attainable with stripping machines included in the package. 

Goat Production Project recipients Consolacion Goat Raisers Association (COGORA) in Pilar and Bailan Farmer Entrepreneurs Association (BAFEA) in Santa Monica also preferred the said commodity since most members have experience with the commodity, and considering the demand for live goats among local restaurants in the island, which is a huge income potential. 

The latest delivery completes the inputs targeted to the FAs under FY 2023. The said projects are long-term. For short-term additional income and food source, the projects also included vegetable seeds distributed individually to members of FAs. ###

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