SOCSKSARGEN, September 2-3, 2020 – A total of 160 farmers from Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat benefited from the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program’s agricultural livelihood projects for upland rice, vegetable, corn, livestock, and poultry production. Farm inputs and training worth Php 551,400.00 under the program’s FY 2020 budget were given to the beneficiaries.

Upland Rice Production with Livestock and Vegetable Production in Cotabato

A hundred (100) farmers from 6 barangays in Pigcawayan attended two-day Upland Rice Production Training in the Municipal Function Hall. Aside from that, they also received a bolo, a hand trowel, and a shovel with a total worth of Php 221,400.00. 

The 6 SAAD-covered villages in the municipality are Barangay Kimarayag (48 farmers), Barangay Payong-Payong (15 farmers), Barangay New Igbaras (5 farmers), Barangay Panay (13 farmers), Barangay Malagakit (5 farmers), and Barangay Molok (15 farmers).

During the distribution, Mayor Jean Dino D. Roquero gave an inspiring message to the  farmers. He said, “We are so blessed at maswerte tayo dito sa Pigcawayan dahil napili pa rin tayo na mabigyan ng SAAD projects. Imo-monitor po natin ang mga proyekto na binigay ng DA-SAAD. Huwag ninyo pong i-benta ang mga ito. May naka-assign po na Agricultural Technician (AT) para i-report at i-monitor kayo.”

Also, AT and Pigcawayan SAAD Focal Mr. Noemi A. Baldad said, “Pahalagahan ninyo po ang mga binigay sa inyo ng DA-SAAD para sa susunod ay tayo naman ang makatulong sa ibang magsasaka. Gamitin po natin lahat ng ating natutunan upang makatulong sa ating pamilya.”

The beneficiaries already received two bags of upland rice seeds, two bags of urea, two bags of complete fertilizer, a knapsack sprayer, three packs of OPV pinakbet seeds (okra, eggplant, ampalaya, and tomato) on July 14, 2020.

An estimated 100 hectares will be planted with rice and crops (pinakbet seeds). The farmer’s recipient started the planting of crops this 2nd week of September 2020.

Furthermore, the said 100 farmers beneficiaries will also grant livestock this month of September.

Integrated Corn Production with Poultry and Vegetable Production in Sultan Kudarat (SK)

The SAAD SK team, in coordination with the DA Region 12 Inspectorate team, Team SK Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, and Municipal Agriculturist Office of Palimbang, distributed 660 Muscovy ducks worth Php 330,000.00 to 60 farmers-beneficiaries in Barangays Lumitan and Palimbang in the municipality of Palimbang. Each beneficiary received 11 muscovy ducks.

Before the distribution of the ducks, the beneficiaries already received corn seeds, bolo, hand trowel, shovel, and pinakbet seeds on August 11, 2020, as part of the package for SAAD’s Integrated Corn Production with Poultry and Vegetable Production in the province.

The 60 farmers-beneficiaries in Barangays Lumitan and Palimbang plant an estimate 55 hectares conventional hybrid corn and vegetable.

Saida Abas, a beneficiary of the project, expressed her gratitude to the SAAD. She shared, “Malaking pasasalamat ko sa DA-SAAD at napansin kami. Naibigay ninyo ang mga pinangako ninyo sa amin. Timing talaga na sa pandemic naibigay. Makakapagsaka pa rin kami kahit sa gitna ng pandemya. Sa mga kasamahan ko, sana po pagsikapan nating mapalago ang ating mga binhi para tayo ay umasenso at umunlad. Maraming salamat po!” ###

Jemiema Arro, DA SAAD NPMO – PR and Communication officer 

Mark Anthony Marfe, SAAD-RPMSO Staff