KALINGA, July 14, 2022 – The Magic 78’s Lower Bangad Farmers Association (M78LBFA)’s pineapple farm expects an estimated 15,600 pineapple harvest by August, after receiving support from the Integrated Banana, Pineapple, and Poultry Production Project of Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program.

The pineapple production component of the Php 3,667,200 worth project granted 200 pineapple slips to each of the 78 members  expecting to gather produce this coming August from the 0.95 ha total accumulated production area. Since the group’s primary source of income comes from farming vegetables, rice, and fruits, pineapple is among their products yet only planted on a small scale. With this, the Municipal Government of Tinglayan partnered with the DA-SAAD program to reach Lower Bangad for additional livelihood.

Farmers have started harvesting pineapples since May which were either sold or used for their families’ consumption. About two to five pineapples are gathered in a week depending on the number of mature fruits. Their initial total pineapple sales reached Php 5,365 from selling 117 pineapples, which helped in the purchase of farmers’ household needs such as food, gas, and payment of electricity bills.

Table 1. Initial pineapple harvest and sales of M78LBFA

In terms of marketing, the members of the FA decided on consolidating all of the group’s harvest to be sold to their neighboring barangays such as Upper Bangad and Bangad Centro, in Tabuk City, and even in Bontoc, Mountain Province.

About the association

M78LBFA is composed of 78 members belonging to the Bangad sub-tribe, locally called as Yfangad, of Tinglayan. The farmers’ association (FA) was registered under the Department of Labor and Employment and was accredited by the Department of Agriculture in September 2020.

Aside from pineapple slips, the group also received free-range chicken stocks, agricultural tools, and equipment. Due to lack of supplier, the banana production component was refocused into lanzones and coffee production,  where seedlings were provided, as well as processing equipment for the coffee trees.

Ways forward

M78LBFA Chairperson Michael Dang-iw expressed their interest in processing pineapples to help preserve the perishable produce for a longer time, which could also be a future venture for the group.

“Agyamyaman kami iti daytuy nga livelihood assistance nga napan iti Lower Bangad ta nu mamintinar mi daytuy ket paadwen mentu pay ti maimula mi ta daytuy ket dakkel ti maitulong na nga pagbyagan dagiti myembros”  (We are very thankful for the livelihood assistance that was given to Lower Bangad, and if maintained, we will later expand our production area as this will be a big help to every members’ livelihood), said Mr. Dang-iw.

With the emerging venture of M78LBFA, Mr. Joseph Gawang, a SAAD staff assigned in Tinglayan, encouraged the FA to refine their policies for the growth and sustainability of their livelihood. ###

Writer: Sheena Phine P. Dayagon, DA-SAAD Kalinga Information Officer