MISAMIS ORIENTAL, February 23, 2024 – Free-range chicken farming stands out as a viable livelihood venture in rural communities. With this and based on the findings of the Beneficiary Needs Assessment (BNA), the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program granted the Free-Range Chicken Production Project to 25 members of the Mapua Farmers Agri-Ventures Association (MFAVA).

In January this year, the MFAVA received Php 414,200 worth of poultry inputs consisting of 385 free-range chickens, 20 bags of chick grower feeds, an incubator, and a freezer. The rest of the agri-inputs for the said project, such as the rest of the 30 chick grower feeds, chicken nets, waterer, and biologics, is expected to be distributed within the first quarter of 2024.

The MFAVA was identified as one of the Farmer’s Associations (FAs) selected by SAAD Phase 2 for continued support until they can establish a community-led enterprise.

The said FA will be using 500 square meters of land area, owned by the group’s president, where the group built the poultry house, as their counterpart, to keep the 385 free-range chickens. According to the FA, they decided to have a weekly job rotation of feeding the chickens and cleaning the communal area. 

About MFAVA

Established in 2023, the members of the Mapua Farmers Agri-Ventures Association have been engaging in agricultural activities, particularly in vegetable and root crops production and livestock rearing. They get their income from selling vegetables and root crops, such as bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, lutya, and cassava.

For their additional source of income, some of them have sari-sari stores, and others work as habal-habal drivers, laborers, and construction workers. 

Based on the Beneficiary Needs Assessment (BNA) conducted by the SAAD Northern Mindanao Area Coordinators, the Program identified free-range chicken production as one of the proposed projects for the MFAVA as the group’s members have experience in poultry raising, which has been one of their sources of income, as well as food, in the community.  ###

Writer: Jo Ann Sablad, DA-SAAD Region 10 Information Officer