CEBU, November 5, 2024 – To support vegetable farmers in Cebu, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) distributed agricultural tools and inputs to the San Antonio Farmers Association (SAFA) in Barangay San Antonio Storage Facility of Boljoon, Cebu on October 2, 2024.
The SAFA, comprising 55 members, was established through Governor Hilario Davide, Jr.’s Farmer Scientist Training Program (FSTP) project from 2016 to 2017. Following a suggestion by the FSTP coordinator, SAFA registered with DOLE and obtained official registration in 2020. Most SAFA members grow coconuts and high-value crops (HVCs) such as sweet potatoes, taro, cabbage, eggplant, tomatoes, and baguio beans.
In 2023, the Municipal Environment and Natural Resources Office (MENRO) in Boljoon, Cebu, a fifth-class municipality, assisted in selecting the association and beneficiaries for the SAAD Program. A Beneficiary Needs Assessment (BNA) evaluated project requirements and readiness, identifying vegetable farming as the most suitable enterprise due to members’ involvement in high-value crops and steady demand. Final validation included profiling and geotagging.
Following this, the group received agricultural interventions including thirty (30) rolls each for the polyethylene hoses, plastic mulches and garden hoses, 30 pieces each for the shovels and pick mattocks to support the beneficiary’s Vegetable Production with Marketing and Enterprise project (Table 1).[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Table 1. SAAD agricultural interventions received by SAFA
|
Interventions |
Unit of Measure | Quantity | Unit Cost (Php) |
Amount |
| Polyethylene Hose | roll | 30 | 2,500.00 | 75,000.00 |
| Plastic Mulch- | roll | 30 | 2,050.00 | 61,500.00 |
| Garden Hose | roll | 30 | 3,000.00 | 90,000.00 |
| Shovel | piece | 30 | 350.00 | 10,500.00 |
| Pick Mattock | piece | 30 | 510.00 | 15,300.00 |
| Total | 252,300.00 |
These assistance are important in their vegetable production venture and effectively market their produce, which are also timely with the rainy season.
This distribution is a complementary activity to the vegetable production project of the association wherein each beneficiary was provided seedlings, fertilizers, fungicides, insecticides, herbicides, and other garden necessities, although this was contingent upon approval by a monitoring group of the association who would determine whether the beneficiary possessed prepared land.
Jenard Endrina, vice president of the association, extends his gratitude to the SAAD Program for the Agri-tools that were given to them.
“Ako si Jenard Endrina, Vice President sa San Antonio Farmers Association. Nagpasalamat na sab mi sa SAAD Program nga naa nasad mga bag-ong gamit nga ilang gihatag nga makatabang gyud sa among pagpanguma. Hinaot magpadayon ang suporta sa amoang asosasyon ug daghang Salamat SAAD Program,” he said.
(I am Jenard Endrina, Vice President of the San Antonio Farmers Association. We thank the SAAD Program again for the new equipment and tools they have given us that will really help in our farming. We hope that the support for our association will continue, and we are grateful to the SAAD Program.)
As part of their plan to generate revenue from sales, the association intends to increase the area’s supply of high-value products, including tomatoes and cabbage. The farmers are also concentrating on growing these crops to boost profitability and production. With the help of the program’s conducted training to improve members’ project management abilities, the association intends to implement effective management techniques to optimize utilization of resources. ###
Writer: Imaculate Grace L. Negre, DA-SAAD Central Visayas Information Officer
Source: Justine Francis Ragay, SAAD Cebu Area Coordinator
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