LA UNION, April 15, 2024 – The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 2 has now expanded its area coverage in Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte, with targeted farmers’ associations (FAs) from seven (7) new priority municipalities to participate in a Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) by the end of the month.

The PRA is a collaborative process where farmers actively identify their needs and resources. This ensures SAAD interventions address specific agricultural challenges faced locally.

Seven (7) FAs with 235 members  from areas with high poverty rates in both Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte will be involved this year. These areas include barangays Santo Rosario (Sigay), Concepcion (Gregorio del Pilar), Lapting (Nagbukel), Suyusoy (Lidlidda), and Paratong Norte (Sta. Catalina) in Ilocos Norte; and barangay Adams (Adams) and Virbira (Carasi) in Ilocos Norte. 

Last year, SAAD Ilocos Region covered four (4) priority municipalities including Sto. Tomas in Pangasinan, Bagulin in La Union, Sugpon in Ilocos Sur, and Dumalneg in Ilocos Norte. In these towns, four FAs with 270 members were selected as beneficiaries of commodity-specific interventions ranging from crops and livestock. 

Highlighting the program’s growth, DA-SAAD Director Ulysses J. Lustria Jr. expressed his support. “I congratulate you for expanding our coverage. This would mean more work for all of us, but we will be able to help more poor farmers in the Ilocos region. Agyamanak!”

Prior to the PRA, consultations were held to assess the background, receptiveness, and readiness of potential beneficiaries. Lorena Olveña, Lead of SAAD Region 1 Operational Planning, Budgeting, Monitoring, and Evaluation Unit, emphasized the importance of this initial step.

“We need to connect with the chosen barangays early on to understand our target beneficiaries. This helps us determine how effectively they work as groups and identify their agricultural needs,” said Olveña. 

The PRA will gather crucial data on the participating FAs’ background, function as cohesive units, and current agricultural activities. Specifically, it will delve into the formation, structure, and experience of the associations, assess their leadership, communication, and decision-making processes, and gather information on existing farming practices, crops cultivated, and livestock raised.

Data collected will form the basis for a comprehensive needs assessment. This information will be used to determine the most suitable community development projects to address the specific needs and challenges faced by each beneficiary group.

Following successful dialogues with over 235 farmers and community leaders, the PRA signifies SAAD’s commitment to empowering rural Ilocos farmers. By providing crucial support resources, the program aims to help them overcome agricultural challenges, diversify income streams, and establish their respective community-based enterprises.

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Writer: Pearl Lovedyn A. Dacuag, SAAD Ilocos Region Information Officer