BOHOL, October 27, 2020 – A total of 60 farmers in President Carlos P. Garcia, Bohol received Php 2.1 million worth of carabaos to be used as draft animals under the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program.

The animals given were part of the FY 2021 Integrated Carabao-based Production Project of the program in Region 7.

Sixty caraheifers were distributed to 10 beneficiaries each from barangays Campamanug and Kabangakalan on September 25; San Jose and Canmangao on October 13; and Bogo and Baud on October 27. The draft animals is intended to plow 56 hectares (ha) aiming to reduce farm operation cost, since farmers used to hire draft animals in land preparation.

In addition to farm operations productivity, the project can also provide the municipality with an alternative food source by raising and multiplying carabaos for its cara-beef.

President Carlos P. Garcia Mayor Fernando B. Estavilla expressed his deepest gratitude to Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar and the whole people behind the program during the turnover ceremony at the Barangay Poblacion Covered Court on October 13, 2021.

“I will assure that the local government unit (LGU), through the Municipal Agriculture office, will help in the monitoring of the project as well as the health of the stock to ensure that there is sustainability,” he said.

SAAD Regional Focal Person Aurea “Jake” Madrio congratulated the farmers who took part in the implementation and yielded positive outcomes since the start of the program.

“I am happy to see that most of you here have an increase in production, have provided food to their table, were able to harness their entrepreneurial skills, and support their children’s school expenses. I wish for the success that this intervention can help you in farming and for you to achieve the masaganang ani at mataas na kita,” she said.

Barangay San Jose recipient Felimon Trajano said, “Nag pasalamat ko ug dako sa SAAD nga programa nga anaa sa among lungsod. Daghan namig nadawat nga mga hinabang sama sa binhi, abuno, ug kining kabaw nga gihatag karon. Ako ning pagga ampingan ang mga gihatag sa programa ug unta makab-ot nako ang masaganang ani ug taas ng akita pinaagi ining programa.”

(I want to express my utmost gratitude to the SAAD Program which has been operating in our municipality. We have received a lot of assistance such as seeds, fertilizers, farm inputs, and today, the carabao. I will take good care of these interventions and will participate in the project implementation to have a prosperous harvest and increase income.)

The activity was also attended by Municipal Agriculturist Felisa B. Boyles, SAAD Provincial Focal Person Ian H. Egam, and SAAD Area Coordinator Grace Cutanda.

A training in marketing and enterprise development will be conducted before the end of the program to help the farmers gain knowledge and skills in establishing the community enterprises. ###

Source: Ian H. Egam, SAAD Bohol Provincial Focal
Writer: Jolina T. Dano, SAAD 7 Information Officer