DAVAO ORIENTAL, October 4, 2024 – The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Davao Region has completed its distribution of its vegetable production interventions last September 5, 2024 to Sergio Osmeña Anti-Communist Brigade Farmers Association in the municipality of Governor Generoso, in pursuit to boost production of various market vegetables in the region.

 

Aiming to increase locally-grown market vegetables in far-flung areas, the program has identified three farmers associations (FAs) this year to receive the project which includes Lingkasa Farmers Association of Jose Abad Santos, Davao Occidental, Sarangani Empowered Women’s Association of Sarangani, Davao Occidental, and Sergio Osmeña Anti-Communist Brigade of Governor Generoso, Davao Oriental. The vegetable production includes but is not limited to eggplant, tomato, bitter gourd, and sweet pepper.

 

“Kinahanglan kaayo nato kaning mga gulay kay higayon pud kaayo nga naa nay umaabot nga tabo diri sa Governor Generoso. Dili pa ni mao kay nakitan jud namo ang kamatinud-anon sa SAAD, musaka jud sa among bukid para lang masuportahan ang asosasyon,” said Vice Chairperson Artemio Pasague for Sergio Osmeña Anti-Communist Brigade Farmers Association (SOACBAFA).

 

(We need these vegetables and it’s timely because our municipality is holding a community farmers market day soon. Here we see SAAD’s sincerity, they will climb our boondocks to support our association.)

 

Three FAs, given with various fertilizers including complete, urea, and muriate of potash, also received from the Program. Additionally, said FAs, Lingkasa FA and Sergio Osmeña Anti-Communist Brigade also received hybrid bitter gourd, eggplant, tomato, and OP sweet pepper seeds, while Sarangani Empowered Women’s Association received hybrid bitter gourd, eggplant, hybrid, OP pole sitao, and okra seeds. 

 

“Nakita jud nato ang kalamboon sa asosasyon. Gihatagan ta ug pagtagad sa SAAD, gihatagan ta ug abono nga daghan. Kanunay tang gilantaw sa gobyerno,” he added.

 

(We’ve seen the development of the association. SAAD gave us the attention, we’ve received more than enough fertilizers (for the seeds). The government looks after us.)

 

Complimenting SAAD’s project with minor improvements to the barangay’s trail accessibility, Municipal Mayor Juanito Inojales of Governor Generoso attended the distribution in Sergio Osmeña. Said barangay can only be accessed by foot, via a trail crossing a snaking river four times. In rainy months, the river overflows which hinders access to the barangay.

 

“Nagpasalamat ta sa sipag ug tiyaga sa SAAD, makita nato ang kalisod sa dalan pasulod. Nakita nato nga halos tanang local products, mabuhi diri mao nang suportahan nato. Pasalamat ta sa suporta sa atoang national government,” said Inojales.

 

(We are thankful to SAAD’s diligence and perseverance, as we’ve seen through how hard the road is coming here. I’ve seen all local products thrive here so we need to support it. We should be thankful to our national government.)

 

For the vegetable production project, SAAD Davao Region allocated more than Php1.4M, supporting the FAs through 2028. Other components for the project, including knapsack sprayers, seedling trays, plastic crates, plastic mulch, and blue drums are set to be delivered to the FAs before the year ends.

 

“Ang SAAD dili lang ni dole out nga projects, naay proseso, grassroots ang approach. Gisuta namo ang inyong panginahanglan. Tulo ka tuig nga dili mo buhian sa SAAD,  naa pay tulo kung maayo ang panahaon, pero ang gusto mismo sa programa makabuhat mo ug community-based enterprise (CBE),“ said SAAD Davao Region’s Community Development Officer III Reymart Pescones.

 

(SAAD does not just dole out projects, there is a process, the approach is grassroots. We’ve studied your needs. We’re here for three years, then an additional three should you prosper, but the program’s main thrust is for you to build community-based enterprises.) ###

 

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Writer: James Brian Flaga, SAAD Davao Region PRDC

Photographer: James Brian Flaga, Ronell Tangonan, SAAD Davao Region PRDC

Source: DA-SAAD Davao Region