NEGROS ORIENTAL, September 26, 2023 – To increase corn and cattle production in Negros Oriental, 50 farmers from Basak and Janay-Janay Farmer’s Associations (FAs) received seeds and livestock under the Cattle and Corn Production Projects of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 2 of Central Visayas on July 15, 2023. 

For the corn production component, 25 members of Barangay Basak FA received 25 kilograms of sweet corn seeds, 25 bags of complete fertilizer, 25 bags of urea, 2 bags of muriate of potash, 25 bags of soil conditioner, 25 units of battery-operated knapsack sprayer, 25 water sprinklers, and 50 rolls of garden hose. 

Meanwhile, 25 members of the Janay-Janay Farmers Association of barangay Janay-Janay also received 25 kilograms of sweet corn seeds, 25 bags of complete fertilizer, 25 bags of urea, 2 bags of muriate of potash, 25 bags of soil conditioner, 25 units of battery-operated knapsack sprayer, 50 water sprinklers, and 50 rolls of garden hose.

On the other hand, Basak farmers received 25 cattle last May 2023 for the cattle component while the distribution of cattle for Janay-Janay farmers was set in September 2023. Integrated with the sweet corn project, the animals can also benefit from corn stalks, cobs, and mature leaves after harvest as their food. 

Mayor Mel Nick Logronio from the fifth-class municipality of San Jose showed his heartfelt gratitude to the SAAD Program for the livelihood projects provided to Basak and Janay-Janay beneficiaries and assured that the support will be properly managed.

“Kami sa lungsod sa San Jose magpasalamat sa SAAD program na gitagaan ug pagtagad among lungsod ug dako kaayo nig tabang sa mag-uuma sa barangay Basak ug Janay-janay. Kini siya imbis ilang e puhunan aning mga gamita sama aning knapsack sprayer mahal kaayo ni ug pananglitan ug ila kining paliton didto sa merkado, kani dako na kaayo ug tabang sa ila na gihatag sa SAAD para sa programa sa mga membro sa farmer association. Dako kaayo pud nig epekto sa ilang pang-uma na ang ilang abot ani mu-increase ug mudako pud ilang kita dayon mudako pud ilang purchasing power na naa na silay gastusan sa pagpaeskwela sa ilang anak ug makatabang pud ni sa food security ug sufficiency,”  said Hon. Logronio.

(In the town of San Jose, we would like to express our gratitude for the SAAD program’s attention to our community, which is a big help to the farmers in the barangays of Basak and Janay-Janay. Instead of buying these knapsack sprayers, which are too expensive in the market, the SAAD program gave them to the FA members. It will help the farmers increase their income, increase purchasing power, and pay childrens’ school expenses while contributing to a household’s food security and sufficiency.)

Mr. Natividad Taguiam, a member of Barangay Janay-Janay Farmers Association, expressed his gratitude to DA-SAAD Central Visayas implementers for the provided interventions to them.

“Ako nagpasalamat sa ako mga nadawat gikan sa Department of Agriculture na gitagaan mig tabang para sa among pananom sama sa abono, mga gamit, ug binhi sa sweet corn na magamit namo para mapalambo among paninabuhian” [I am thankful for the inputs I received from the Department of Agriculture such as fertilizer, farming tools, sweet corn seeds that will help us improve our livelihood], shared Mr. Taguiam.

Basak FA has planted sweet corn on their 1.25-hectare (ha) communal garden, same with Janay-Janay FA, which has a 1.25ha communal garden. San Jose is expecting 8,854 kilograms of sweet corn harvests from the two FAs this year.

Both FAs will sell their produce in the local market where the supply of sweet corn is in demand. To prevent oversupply, Negros Oriental farmers use the staggered system of planting wherein the seedlings are planted on separate dates so the harvests are done in batches. ###

Writers: Romeo Ruel M. Paras and Jessica R. Alvero, DA-SAAD Central Visayas Information Officers
Source: Randy P. Carpio, DA-SAAD Negros Oriental Community Development Officer II