BUTUAN CITY, December 18, 2023 – In its FY 2023 Year-end Review and Assessment, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Caraga achieved 93% (Php 39,189,622.91) obligation rate and 76% (Php 32,147,844) disbursement from its Php 42,093,000 current year fund allocation as financial performance.

Said figures can be translated to 28 livelihood projects implemented benefiting 28 farmer groups. 

The DA-SAAD Regional Program Management Support Office (RPMSO) reported assisting 727 farmers from Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands and organized them into 28 groups registered with the Department of Labor and Employment with projects ranging from crops (abaca, cacao, banana, pineapple, and vegetable) and livestock and poultry (layer chicken and goat). 

From January to July, the Program also rolled out 56 series of activities under its Social Preparation component, which included 14 orientations with partner local government units (LGUs) to cascade the implementation guidelines, 14 beneficiary needs assessments (2 farmers’ associations per LGU) to ensure projects and interventions are responsive to needs and suited to their respective communities; and 28 capability enhancement training, particularly in organizational development for the FAs to familiarize them on the foundations of an organization, factors affecting project sustainability, and conflict management strategies. 

To further improve the knowledge and management skills of the FAs, 28 technical training related to the implemented livelihood projects were also conducted from April to July. Following the completion of the training, production inputs were delivered from April to November. 

The few remaining deliverables as of December 11, which include materials for the perimeter fence and biofertilizer, will be delivered before the month. 

Of the 28 livelihood projects implemented this year, the 16 layer chicken projects in Surigao del Norte (10) and Dinagat Islands (6), and vegetable production (1) projects in Surigao del Norte have already produced and generated income for recipient FAs. 

The Caridad Vegetable Association in Pilar, SDN, reported Php 47,560.40 in sales from selling vegetables (string beans, cucumber, eggplant, patola, pepper, chili, tomatoes) from July to November. Meanwhile, the 15 FAs with layer chicken projects generated Php 1,645,168.40 sales from 285,736 eggs sold per tray for Php 240-270. 

Primary activities for FY 2024 were also presented which include the conduct of stakeholders’ consultation meetings, beneficiary profiling and database uploading, capability-building activities, and complementary technical training within the first quarter, gearing towards the roadmap for sustained production and product development. ###

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