SURIGAO DEL NORTE, September 30, 2023 – Providing long-term income sources to Phase 2 farmers’ associations (FAs) in Siargao Island, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program turned over communal Goat Production Projects to 53 farmers in Santa Monica and Pilar, Surigao del Norte on September 14, 2023.

The Bailan Farmer Entrepreneurs’ Association in Santa Monica and Consolacion Goat Raisers’ Association in Pilar received various inputs for the communal project including 11 goats (1 buck, 10 does), drugs and biologics, forage seeds, forage shredder, and goat house. The Program allocated Php 2,291,090 for the project under FY 2023. 

Table 1. List of FAs who received SAAD goat project

To improve the knowledge and management skills of the recipient farmers before the turnover, the Program also conducted a Goat Production Training in June tackling feeding and nutrition, disease prevention, and record-keeping. In August, they also obtained a fuel-operated forage chopper (1 unit per FA) to cut dry and wet grass as feed for the goats. 

Surigao del Norte DA-Agricultural Program Coordinating Officer Marco Antonio Morido, in his message during the turnover, encouraged the groups to constantly seek technical advice from the local agriculture office to ensure the goats remain healthy and productive. He also emphasized the goal of SAAD to provide a long-term additional income source for the farmers in areas with high poverty incidence.

BAFEA Chairman Rogelio C. Bagotsay, Sr. expressed appreciation for the project funded by the Program and committed to sustaining it with the help of members. 

“Daghang salamat sa proyekto gikan sa DA-SAAD ug sa suporta sa among grupo gikan sa pag sugod hangtod karon. Among paningkamutan nga kining proyekto mo lambo pinaagi sa pag kugi inubanan sa teknikal nga assistance sa SAAD ug LGU,” said Mr. Bagotsay.

[Thank you, DA-SAAD, for this project and the assistance from the beginning up to now. We will continue sustaining this project with the technical assistance of the Program and LGU counterparts.]

The Beneficiary Needs Assessment conducted by the Program in March found that some FA members have experience raising goats. Goat production was also among the projects they preferred. With the project fully established, they prioritize increasing their stocks this year and selling them to prospective local buyers, especially in the municipality of General Luna, where tourists are concentrated.

The turnover activity was in partnership with the Provincial Government Unit of Surigao del Norte, represented by Provincial Governor’s Office Chief of Staff Oscar Pospia; Provincial Veterinary Office led by Provincial Veterinarian Life Shiela Cubillanes; and Municipal Local Government Units through the Municipal Agriculture Offices represented by OIC-Municipal Agriculturist Janine Enhaynes (Pilar) and Marilou Humandos (Santa Monica). ###

Writer: Mark Angelo C. Pineda, DA-SAAD Caraga Information Officer