TUGUEGARAO CITY, August 7, 2024 – With an end goal of strengthening and empowering its association beneficiaries, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program Cagayan Valley Region convened three farmers’ associations (FAs) for the Capability and Team building Training in the province of Batanes last July 10, 2024.

A total of 63 farmers from the municipalities of Basco, Ivana, and Uyugan belonging to Kayvayvanan Umhakaw Nu Basco, Nyoy Farmers’ Association, and Isamurung Farmers’ Association, participated in the activities conducted by DA-SAAD Region 2 as resource persons.

Held at Radiwan, Ivana, Batanes, the activity highlighted the importance of good governance along with the roles and responsibilities of the officers and members of the FAs. Part of the topics also discussed were communication process, team cooperation, and organizational management that must be applied by the members to achieve their goal towards development.

Underscoring the importance of organizational management and good rapport, Food Production and Livelihood Lead Mr. Emelito M. Yuro, who spearheaded the training, said that the goal of the said training is to equip the farmers with ample knowledge and trust that can guide them in handling the livelihood projects awarded by the SAAD program.

“Importante kasi sa ating mga farmers’ associations na may pagkakaisa maliban pa sa pagiging responsable nila upang mas mabigyan nila ng pansin ang pagpapaunlad ng kanilang grupo at pagpapahalaga sa mga livelihood projects na dulot ng SAAD. Maganda rin na madevelop ang character ng bawat miyembro at mapaganda ang relasyon nila sa iba pang asosasyon” (It is essential for our farmers’ associations to be united aside from being responsible members. This ensures that they can effectively manage their groups and value the livelihood projects provided by SAAD. It is also important to develop the character of each member and strengthen their relationship with other associations), Yuro said.

Alongside the SAAD team are representatives from the local government unit who showed their support during the training namely Ivana, Batanes Mayor Celso B. Batallones, and OIC-Municipal Agriculturist Cindy E. Balanoba.

In his message, Ivana Mayor Celso B. Batallones assured the farmers of the LGU’s constant support in farming and the agriculture sector. He likewise extended the municipality’s gratitude to SAAD in convening the three associations for the conduct of the activity.

The Kayvayvanan group, a pilot area of SAAD, has already received cattle as its livelihood package in 2023 and has subsequently received various interventions to sustain the project. Meanwhile, the two other associations mentioned have been given seeds and fertilizers with their main livelihood projects forthcoming.

Early this year, DA-SAAD Region 2 completed the same capability building with seven other associations from Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, and Quirino provinces.

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Writer: Pearl Lovedyn A. Dacuag, DA-SAAD Region 2 Information Officer