Even at a small scale, poultry farming is a profitable business where there is a large and ready market for its products, be they eggs or meat.
In Siquijor, four (4) farmers’ associations (FAs) who are recipients of the Chicken Egg Production Project of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) earned a combined gross income of Php 157,672 after four (4) months since the receipt of the livelihood project on June 30, 2023.
Knowing their niche as an egg farmer and target market, the Bintangan El Paraiso Association, Olang Women’s Association, Orchid Rural Improvement Club, and Purok Sudlon FAs were able to take off project operation after gaining knowledge and skills in ready-to-lay (RTL) management and practices.
Each of the associations received 288 RTL chicken, layer feeds, egg trays, digital egg weighing scale, shovels, wheelbarrow, battery-operated knapsack sprayers, and disinfectant solutions. Assuming shared responsibility for collaborative work, the members take turns daily in feeding and providing clean water to the chicken, cleaning and collecting manure, and harvesting of eggs.
As of writing, these Siquijor FAs gathered and sold 24,669 pieces of eggs valued at Php 200 per tray for peewee size, Php 210 for small, Php 230 for medium, Php 250 for large, Php 270 for extra large and Php 280 for jumbo.
With a total of 100 members directly benefiting from the project, each FA has their own profit sharing scheme. Seventy percent (70%) of the total revenue of Purok Sudlon FA is shared equally among its members and 30% will serve as the association’s fund. Bintangan El Paraiso Association allocated 50% of their income as members’ share and saved the remaining half for maintenance and RTL project expansion plans. The rest of the FAs are saving all of their profit in the associations’ accounts.
In the course of project operation, the FAs reported mortalities of their RTLs due to prolapse and wildcat attacks; however, such situations were addressed immediately through the help of Municipal Agricultural Office (MAO), Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) and Siquijor Area Coordinators. They cut the feathers of the prolapsed chickens and thoroughly clean its vents with water while isolating it from the rest of the chickens. They ensured proper housing management throughout the cycle of the chicken’s life and built spacious and well-ventilated, durable, and reliable poultry house fences.
“Dako gyud namong pasalamat ug kalipay nga naa na mi daily income sa SAAD project. Sa pipila ka bulan nga among giatiman ang mga RTLs, nakahatag napud usab namo ang project ug presko nga itlog. Nagpasalamat pud ko nga ang mga miyembro, naa gyapon ang kooperasyon ug paghigugma sa maong project,” shared Mrs. Rica Balambao of Olang Women’s Association.
(We are grateful and happy because we are already having daily income from this SAAD project. For how many months tending to the RTLs, this also provided us with fresh eggs. I am also thankful for the members’ cooperation and dedication to the project.)
After selling eggs to neighbors and fellow farmers, the FAs plan to start saving an amount from their income. Said funds will be used for poultry stock replacement and chicken housing expansion starting next year as soon as the chickens slow down production or stop laying eggs. ###
Writer: Jessica R. Alvero, DA-SAAD Central Visayas Information Officer
Sources: Harold Malolot, Provincial Coordinator PPMSO Siquijor
Writz Aiann Aqui and Christine Jay Balolong, SAAD Siquijor Area Coordinators
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