OCCIDENTAL MINDORO, March 19, 2021 – Seventy-three (73) Iraya-Mangyan Indigenous People (IP) farmers in Paluan now supplies to a giant corporation for its cassava requirements.

The Iraya-Mangyan IP farmers of Samahang Sitio Hinugasan Cassava Planter’s Association (SSHCPA) are beneficiaries of the Department of Agriculture-Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program’s Cassava Production Project.

The group earned Php 160,276 after producing 18,856 kilograms (kg) of dried and chipped cassava from a 15-hectare land. The raw material was sold to the San Miguel Corporation Assembler.

According to Mr. Berny Castillano, San Miguel Corporation Assembler, the dried and chipped cassava will be used as an ingredient in animal feed production.

“Ako, kasama ang aking mga miyembro ng samahan ay labis na nagpapasalamat sa mga binigay na tulong na nanggaling sa DA-SAAD mula pa noong taong 2019. Amin pa pong pag-iingatan ang mga ibinigay ng SAAD sa aming samahan at ipagpapatuloy ang pagtatanim ng balinghoy ngayong taong 2021,” said Mr. Alex Reyes, Chairperson of SSHCPA.

SAAD previously awarded SSHCPA the Cassava Production Project comprising 62,400 pieces of cassava cuttings, three units of pump and engine with complete accessories, 10 draft animals with plow and harrow, 20 sets of farming tools, cassava grater, and presser, a multi-purpose drying pavement (MPDP), one hermetic Cocoon, and three units of hand tractor with trailer in 2019 amounting to Php 2,127,300.

Cassava production began in May 2020. After 10 months, the harvested cassava was chopped into thin pieces, solar-dried for three to four days, and shipped to the corporation.

Discussion about the supply opportunity with the San Miguel Corporation was facilitated by SAAD Paluan Area Coordinator, Jhonzell Galicha Panganiban.

The income of Php 13,455.50 from the 1,583kg overall produce will be added to the association’s fund that will be used for the maintenance of the farm machines and construction of the machinery shed.

Meanwhile, the remaining five hectares of unharvested cassava were set aside for making cassava delicacies such as cassava cake, suman, and pichi-pichi for food consumption.

SSHCPA is a SAAD-established group registered as a legitimate working association under the Department of Labor and Employment in November 2019. It is located at Brgy. Harrison, one of the 19 identified End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) areas in Occidental Mindoro. ###

Writer: Dianne Francis A. Sy, SAAD Information Officer I

Sources: Jhonzell Galicha Panganiban, SAAD Area Coordinator (Paluan)