ZAMBOANGA PENINSULA, December 22, 2023 –  Giving farmers a platform to present their project operation strategies, accomplishments, and sustainability schemes, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA – SAAD) Program Phase 2 conducted successive year-end assessment to 20 farmers associations (FAs) in Zamboanga Sibugay, Zamboanga del Norte, and Zamboanga del Sur. 

These assessments carried out from November 14 to December 1, 2023 across SAAD-covered municipalities in Zamboanga Peninsula aim to assess performance of every recipient group throughout the year in terms of project implementation, financial management, and marketing  initiatives. 

In every province, two groups of SAAD implementers were deployed to facilitate and document the activities. Each consists one staff from Social Preparation and Program Management (SPPM), one staff from Public Relations and Development Communication (PRDC) unit and two Area Coordinators assigned in their respective areas. They engaged the farmers in conversational discussions to obtain first-hand information about each FA’s  project operation performance. 

Table 1. List of participants during the Year-end Assessment for FAs in Zamboanga Peninsula

The La Victoria Farmers’ Association from La Libertad and the Makugihong Mag-uuma sa Poblacion from Godod, Zamboanga del Norte are among the groups who made remarkable accomplishments as they earned an average of Php 300,000 net income from their respective Layer Chicken Egg Production Projects.  While some reported diseases of their crops and livestock and the treatment they applied using the knowledge they gained from SAAD’s technical training. 

Mr. Charlito Lanutan, treasurer of Kilusang Pagbabago Kabatan FA, also shared the impact of the program to their association after receiving the FY 2023 Banana Production Project.

“Sa pagka tinuod lang, ang mga mag-uuma diri sa Kabatan wala na gyud naka tanom tungod sa kamahal sa abono. Pero karon nga gihatagan mi og hinabang, nadasig gyud among grupo nga amoa jud ning mapadayon ni ang proyekto ug mulahotay amoang grupo,” he said.

(In reality, the farmers here in Kabatan have not planted crops due to the high cost of fertilizer. Now that we have been given help, our group is encouraged to continue this project and our group will persevere.)

The outcome of the assessment was collated by the SPPM unit and was presented during the DA-SAAD 9 year-end assessment on December 12-15, 2023, to identify areas of concern of FAs on the ground as well as collect insights from the management that will further improve the implementation of the projects. 

As part of sustained livelihood assistance to its beneficiaries, SAAD Zamboanga Peninsula will continue providing the 20 FAs next year with production support and extension training in terms of association development and market linkages to help them build community-based enterprises. ###

Writers: Ellaine Quiamco and Aimee Lou Madjus, DA SAAD Regional Information Officers