BOHOL, February 13, 2024 – As part of the Ready-to-Lay (RTL) Chicken Project package provided for its Phase 2 beneficiaries, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Central Visayas distributed 593 bags of chicken feeds worth Php 1,281,347 to six (6) farmers associations (FAs) in Bohol. 

In January 2024, the Bontud FA in Clarin received 155 bags of chicken layer mash; Bangon Dangay FA in Albuquerque, San Roque FA, and New Lourdes FA in Cortes, each accepted 108 bags; and 57 bags were provided to both the Jambawan FA in Lila and the Tangcasan Sur FA in Loay. The FAs received 32 total modules of RTL chickens in December 2023, which they managed in their communal poultry farms as part of their project counterpart. 

(See previous article here: https://saad.da.gov.ph/2024/01/bohol-fas-start-chicken-farming-after-da-saads-poultry-assistance)

In terms of poultry management, three FAs have hired a farm worker to take care of daily tasks like feeding, providing water, and collecting eggs. Said initiative helps prevent contamination and keeps the chickens healthy. The other FA members are responsible for cleaning the poultry area and collecting manure. Three other FAs have volunteered to handle daily tasks in their poultry houses.

San Roque Cortes FA chairperson Nestor Sarco expressed his gratitude for the livelihood project provided to them.

“Malipayon ug mapasalamaton mi tungod ky gihatagan mi og  project nga kumpleto gikan sa RTL ug naa pud  feeds. Nagpasalamat kami  sa SAAD program ky natuman jud ang saad sa gobyerno, ang pagtabang sa mga associations,” said Sarco. 

[We are happy and grateful to receive such a project with complete inputs, from RTL chicken to layer feeds. We sincerely thank the SAAD Program for fulfilling their promise to help the associations.]

As of now, some of the chickens are laying eggs. The plan is to sell these eggs locally, using the proceeds to replenish chicken feeds once the current stock from SAAD Central Visayas runs out. Once the income is stable, they intend to allocate funds for poultry project expansion. ###

Writer: Jessica R. Alvero, DA-SAAD Central Visayas Information Officer  
Source: Darwin Boncales, SAAD Bohol Provincial Coordinator