ILOCOS SUR, October 16, 2024 – Five (5) farmers’ associations (FAs) with 200 members in Ilocos Sur benefited from Php 1.8 million worth of agricultural inputs from the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 2. 

During the official turnover last September 20 and 21, 2024, beneficiaries were provided with 875 kilograms of molasses, five kilos of assorted vegetable seeds, 100 packs of organic soil conditioners, one hammer mill, and two soil auger. 

These inputs are part of SAAD’s Goat and High Value Crops Production, and Cattle and High Value Crops Production Projects implemented across three priority municipalities in the province. 

The recipient groups were the Phil-Lead Farmers Association in Lidlidda, Barangay Sto. Rosario Farmers’ Association in Sigay, Bulig Hog Raisers’  Association from Gregorio del Pilar, Taripnong Dagiti Mannalon ti Barangay Lapting Inc. in Nagbukel, and Pangotan Development Farmers’  Association, Sugpon, Ilocos Sur. 

Each of these groups will formulate policies in rearing the small and large ruminants, with male cattle designated for meat purposes or sold as whole to generate funds for the association, while female  cattle will be kept for breeding to expand the herd. The ultimate goal is to focus on production, followed by cattle fattening, and to establish related ventures, including the sale of live weight cattle and beef. 

Dr. John B. Pascual, DA Regional Field Office 1 OIC – Regional Executive Director, led the project turnover, together with Jomar D. Dayap from Agricultural Program Coordinating Office – Ilocos Sur, and SAAD regional and provincial implementers. 

“You all play an important role in maximizing the benefits of the distributed interventions, especially the agri machinery and equipment. I hope these will improve your productivity, and it’s up to you to make the most out of them,” said Dir. Pascual.

For his part, Phil-lead FA leader Bernard Tawali expressed gratitude to the SAAD Program. Tawali said: “Agyaman kami kadagiti intervention a naipaay kanyami. Dakkel daytoy a kabadangan iti panagtalonmi kasta payen iti panagpakan kadagitay alagami. Saan laeng a daytoy nu diketdi nakasursuro kami pay iti moderno a wagas ti panagtalon.”

(We are grateful for the interventions provided to us. This is a great help for our farming, especially in managing our crops. Not only that, but we have also learned modern farming techniques.)

The mass distribution was among the initiatives of the SAAD Program Ilocos Region under its Food Production and Livelihood Component aimed to uplift the livelihoods of rural farmers by providing them with the necessary resources to improve their crop yields and farming operations. ###

Writer: Abegail Marcelino, DA-SAAD Ilocos Information Officer