BOHOL, January 17, 2024 – To increase chicken egg and vegetable production in their areas, four (four) farmers associations (FAs) in Bohol successively received various agricultural inputs from the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Central Visayas from November to December 2023. 

In coordination with the Municipal Agriculture Offices (MAOs) of Lila and Loay, Bohol, SAAD Provincial Program Management Support Office (PPMSO) of Bohol turned over 53 bags of chicken layer feeds, 3 range nets, 3 garden hose, and 2 wheelbarrows to Tangcasan Sur Farmers Association; and 106 bags of chicken layer feeds, 4 shovels, 3 range nets, 3 garden hose, 2 bottles of disinfectant solutions, 4 poultry manure scrapers, and 2 wheelbarrows to Jambawan Farmers Association (JAFA) in support to their chicken production. 

“Dakong pasalamat jud sa SAAD. Na encourage mig samot nga mo engage sa farming, kay ang gobyerno andam mo supporta. Unta daghan pang interventions nga matagamtaman sa barangay labina sa among asosasyon para sa kaayuhan sa mag-uuma,” Marcelina Pagsiat, JAFA member, said after receiving the chicken layer feeds for their association.

(I am very thankful to the SAAD Program. We are more encouraged to engage in farming because the government is ready to support us. We hope that there will be more interventions that our barangay could benefit from, especially our association for the advantage of our farmers).

Meanwhile, for vegetable production support, Tangcasan Norte Small Farmers Association (TANSFA) accepted 10 wheelbarrows, 60 plastic crates, 100 seedling trays, 25 rolls of plastic mulch, 25 insect sticky traps, 50 rolls of banana nylon twine, and 25 pruning shears; while Calvario Farmers Association (CAFA) received 100 seedling trays, 25 rolls of plastic mulch, 25 insect sticky traps, 50 rolls of banana black nylon twine, 25 garden trowels and 25 pruning shears. 

“Karon pami kasuway og ing ani ka daghan nga mga farm inputs nga gihatag sa gobyerno, tungod ani ang mga mag-uuma diri sa Tangcasan Norte nagkugi na og pananom kay wala mapakyas ang Program sa ilang mga SAAD nga tabangan ang mga mag-uuma pinaagi sa paghatag og libre nga mga intervention ug trainings. Pasalamat pud mi sa pag guide namu diri sa field nga maoy usang nakapalig-on og pag-inspire sa mga uban nga mag-uuma,” shared Maximo Joson, TANSFA President.

(This is the first time that we have received numerous farm inputs provided by the government. Because of this, the farmers here in Tangcasan Norte have been planting crops as SAAD did not fail to fulfill its promise to help us through the free provision of interventions and training. We are also thankful for the field workers who guided and inspired our fellow farmers). 

TANSFA from Tangcasan Norte, Loay is a recipient of Cattle Fattening and Vegetable Production project. CAFA from Calvario, Lila benefits from the Integrated Vegetable and Carabao Production project while TASFA from Tangcasan Sur, Loay and JAFA from Jambawan, Lila are beneficiaries of Integrated Chicken Egg Production with High-value Crop projects of the SAAD Phase 2 program implementation for FY 2023.

Each of the 6 FAs decided to assign one association member, who will receive Php3,000 per month,  to manage the poultry farm from feeding the chickens and harvesting the eggs. Each group member took turns cleaning the chicken manure twice a month, as scheduled by their officers.

For vegetable production, the farmers planted seeds in their farmland areas and agreed to allocate 15% of their net income to the association fund.  As of this writing, some farmers have already started harvesting short-term crops such as ampalaya, string beans, and squash. 

Marking a step towards livelihood and food production, the distributed agricultural inputs to Phase 2 beneficiaries will help in managing their communal poultry farms and vegetable gardens.

The livelihood projects are geared toward increasing farm yield, ensuring a sustainable income for the beneficiaries, and establishing of community-based enterprises. ###

Writer: Jessica R. Alvero, DA-SAAD Central Visayas Information Officer 
Sources:Juge Mhel E. Muring, SAAD Bohol area coordinator, SAAD Central Visayas OPBME, SAAD Central Visayas FPL Unit