MIMAROPA, February 13, 2024 – A few months after the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) MIMAROPA provided poultry production projects to farmers associations (FAs) in Romblon and Palawan, four (4) out of seven FAs have recorded a gross sales total of Php 224,402, resulting in a net income of Php 157,035 as of January 2024.

Supported by generous landowners who provided free access to communal farms, the associations worked diligently to implement sustainable practices, including careful breeding and monitoring flock health, starting project operations promptly. The 7 FAs – Poblacion Poultry and Livestock Association (PPLA), Diit Farmers Association (DFA), Villa Sol Farmers Association (VSFA), Abagat, Bangcal, Cambian Farmers Association (AbBaCa FA), Rizal Rural Improvement Club (RRIC), Rizal-Lucbuan Farmers Livelihood Association (RLFLA), and Tubigon Planters Association (TBA) – received the poultry stocks, chicken cages, feeds, and drugs and biologics worth Php 3,883,510 from October to December 2023 (Table 1).

This initiative, guided by the Beneficiary Needs Assessment (BNA) results, aimed to address the consistent demand for chicken meat and eggs in the municipalities. The associations are optimistic about the potential alternative income that poultry production can provide, given the persistent demand for chicken products particularly in their municipalities where there are few poultry farmers. 

This is also part of the Department of Agriculture’s efforts to address the existing insufficiency in chicken meat and egg. Based on the PSA 2023 Open Statistics Data, there is a 74.08% insufficiency in chicken meat and 4.41% egg insufficiency in MIMAROPA in 2022, further emphasizing the need to enhance local production.  Table 1. Romblon and Palawan recipients of SAAD Phase 2 Poultry Projects

Earning from RTL Chicken (Egg) Production

In January 2024, four (4) of the 7 FAs started earning from their ventures. The Tubigon Planters Association began harvesting eggs two weeks after receiving ready-to-lay Dekalb breed chickens. They successfully sold 138 trays, priced between Php 200 and Php 230 per tray. In these early stages, most of the harvested eggs are of average size, with some being smaller.

The Rizal Rural Improvement Club achieved successful marketing of 231 trays, with prices ranging from Php 160 to Php 270 based on egg sizes, from pewee to large. Meanwhile, the Rizal-Lucbuan Farmers Livelihood Association sold 239 trays with different egg sizes, ranging from small to jumbo, at prices from Php 150 to Php 330 per tray. Additionally, individual eggs were sold for Php 7 to Php 11 per piece.

The AbBaCa FA sold 305 trays of eggs priced at Php 250 to Php 320 per tray, varying in size from small to large.

The associations tracked production expenses, including labor costs, tray expenditures, business permits, and other miscellaneous outlays. After deducting these expenses, they achieved substantial net incomes (Table 2).Table 2. Income and expenses of RTL Chicken (Egg) Production Project beneficiaries

RRIC, RLFLA, and AbBaCa FA were delighted to provide their communities with farm-fresh eggs. The primary sources of eggs for Agutaya and Magsaysay are Iloilo and Manila, and the extended travel hours occasionally impact the egg quality.

Chairman Berardo C. Biarcal of RLFLA shared that consumers eagerly anticipate their eggs, appreciating their freshness compared to supplies from other provinces that undergo lengthy journeys before reaching Magsaysay. He expressed gratitude to the Department of Agriculture and the SAAD Program for their invaluable support in the project.

“Napakalaking biyaya ang proyektong ito mula sa Department of Agriculture para sa aming mga maliliit na magsasaka at mangingisda. Malaking tulong ito sa aming komunidad upang ma-address ang kakulangan sa suplay ng itlog. Lubos kaming nagpapasalamat. Ito ang proyektong maaalala ko, na talagang ibinigay mismo sa amin,” he said.

(The Department of Agriculture’s project is a tremendous blessing for us, small farmers and fisherfolk. It greatly helps our community address the shortage of egg supply. We are truly thankful. This is the project I will distinctly remember, given directly to us).

The FAs plan to sustain their projects by implementing strategic measures for replenishing poultry stocks which include implementing careful breeding practices for free-range chicken production, monitoring the health and growth of existing flocks, and saving their income to purchase new poultry stocks once the old ones cease egg production.

Furthermore, these FAs are encouraged to concentrate on improving the overall livelihoods of their members by not only sustaining these poultry projects but also transforming them into community-based enterprises. ###

Writer: Melissa F. Lingco, DA-SAAD MIMAROPA Information Officer II
Sources: Engr. Maiden Marie N. Segui, DA-SAAD MIMAROPA Associate Project Officer II, Jercel Catubig, DA-SAAD MIMAROPA Community Development Officer II, Vilmar Robes, DA-SAAD MIMAROPA Community Development Officer II, Jhonzell G. Panganiban, Community Development Officer II