DAVAO REGION, July 02, 2024 – Eight farmers associations (FAs) of Indigenous Peoples from Davao Oriental and Occidental under the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development Program received this year’s upgraded goat production project. 

 

Said project consists of upgraded goats and veterinary drugs, backed by skills capacitation for the members of the FAs which benefited a total of 200 farmers of Blaan, Mandaya, Manobo, and Tagakaolo descent. 

 

In Davao Occidental, two FAs namely Lingkasa Farmers Association and Dalupan Renewable Energy Community Development Association (DARECDA) received 44 and 43 goats, respectively. 

 

In Davao Oriental, each of the six FAs received 43 goats: Ugnayan Ng Mga Magsakakang Lumad Ng Trese, Matabang-Pagsayawan-Liloan FA (MAPALIFA), Limot Lumad FA, Sergio Osmeña Anti-Communist Brigade Agrivet Association (SOACBAFA), Aliwagwag IP Farmers and Aqua Culture Development Association, and Bongcuan Community Integrated FA.  Of these small ruminants, five were bucks, the remaining, all does. 

 

“Salamat sa SAAD kay kami nahatagan ug dugang panginabuhian. Unta mahimo ning sinugdanan nga mas mapalambo pa amoang asosasyon,” said Mercedita Aguelo, chairperson for Lingkasa Farmers Association.

 

[We are thankful to SAAD for they’ve given us an additional source of income. May this be the start of the success of our organization.]

 

This year, SAAD Davao Region identified upgraded goat production as one of its animal-based interventions, alongside upgraded native and layer chicken. A mainstay of the program’s livelihood projects, the dispersal of upgraded goats to hinterland areas of the region aims to increase the ruminant’s population and goat meat production for indigenous’ farmers income augmentation. For this project, SAAD Davao Region has allotted more than Php 2.7M.

 

“Tumong ug tinguha sa SAAD nga makatabang sa kinabuhian sa atong maguuma sa mga hilagyong dapit. Kaning mga kanding, padaghanon usa, unya ang mga anak, maoy ibaligya. Mao perme ang ginahimo sa atong mga mag-uuma. Kani bisan sa ginagmay, makatabang na sa ilaha,” Naomi Lamata, Alternate Assistant Focal for SAAD Davao Region, remarked.

 

[It is SAAD’s goal and purpose to help our farmers in far-flung areas in terms of income generation. These goats are bred, and the kids, when they become does or bucks,  are sold. This has always been the strategy of our farmers. Even in meager ways, the income from selling will help them.]

 

The FAs benefited by the Program opted for either communal and dispersal methods of distribution, with some choosing both to maximize the earning potential of the project. In the communal route, the FA housed the entire herd in a shed, with cut and carry applied as the method of feeding. In dispersal, individual members are doled out with one or two goats for grazing. When ruminants produce kids, the association will collect one as return on investment then subject to the care and discretion of the group. 

 

“Unta kani atong proyekto, mahimong usa sa mga hinungdan nganong mutaas ang kalidad sa panginabuhi sa atong mga igsoong maguuma. Kaning kanding, sakto kaayo sa ilahang mga area kay daghan daan ug makaon gikan sa kinaiyahan, ug gamay lang ang trabahoon sa atong maguuma,” SAAD Davao Region’s Community Development Officer III Engr. Joed Orig, said. 

 

[We hope that this project becomes one of the reasons for our beneficiaries’ ways of life to improve. These goats are apt to their areas as they won’t be needing much in terms of feeding, plus the farmers won’t need technical knowledge for it to be sustainable.] ###

 

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Writer: James Brian Flaga, SAAD Davao Region PRDC

Photographer: Ronell Tangonan, SAAD Davao Region PRDC

Source: DA-SAAD Davao Region