Rizalina Farmers’ Association receives inputs for rice and duck-raising production

ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE, December 4, 2020 – “This is the best Christmas gift for us in Rizalina,” shared Rizalina Farmers Association President Primitivo Montano to the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program.

The SAAD Program delivered inputs for the FY 2020 Rice-Duck Production Project, complemented with a one-day training, to the group with 33 members.

“We did not expect the ducks to arrive soon. We are very thankful to the DA-SAAD for this early gift. We are hopeful that with your guidance and support, we will become a successful balut supplier,” Montano added.

The DA-SAAD Program in Region 9 provided the livelihood project consisting of 200 female and 29 male mallard ducks (Php 143,000), 60 bags of feeds (Php 64,800), 25 bags of rice seeds (Php 22,800), and 60 bags of complete fertilizer (Php 73,500).

The association members also participated in a lecture on Lowland Rice Production conducted by the Municipal Agriculture Office – Agricultural Technician Peter Egay, as well as the Rice Duck Management lecture by the DA 9 SAAD Livestock technicians Jailyn Gamutan and Abelardo Lameri.

“We appreciate your patience as our project partners, and we hope you will be diligent in caring for this project. The outcome of this project is already in your hands. If we can see that your association is working hard in sustaining the project, we assure you that we will provide you an expansion assistance. Our government is optimistic that with this livelihood intervention, it will help alleviate your living conditions,” SAAD Provincial Coordinator Ronillo Dusaban said to the association members.

According to Mr. Dusaban, the Rizal FA just recently became a SAAD Farmer-Partner in 2020. The group will also receive polyethylene screen (Php 6,800) to complete the Php 310,000-worth project. ###

From the original article, “RICE-DUCK PRODUCTION PROJECT: An early Christmas gift for Rizalina Farmers Association”

Writer:                Aimee Lou S. Madjus, Information Officer-SAAD Region 9
Copy-editor:      Natalianne Marie O. Delos Reyes, PR and Comms Officer- SAAD NPMO