DAVAO REGION, February 28, 2024 – Eight farmers associations (FAs) across Davao Region received upgraded goats from the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) as part of the program’s continuing effort to create community-based enterprises  out of marginal FAs in the region.

An upgraded goat is the offspring from pairing a native doe with either an/a Anglo-Nubian or Boer buck. As a result, upgraded goats are more commercially viable and have better survivability in local weather conditions.

The upgraded goats were distributed to FAs in Davao del Norte, namely Diversified Farmers Association, who received twenty (20) goats in San Isidro, and Dagohoy Abaca Farmers Association, who received twenty (20) goats in Talaingod. Meanwhile, in Davao Oriental, Aliwawag IP Farmers and Aquaculture Development Association in Cateel and Bongcuan Community Integrated Farmer Association in Boston have both received eighteen (18) goats.

In Davao Occidental, the Lingkasa Farmers Association in Jose Abad Santos and Dalupan Renewable Energy Community Development Association in Don Marcelino benefited with eighteen (18) goats from the project, and the Alayao Sustainable Farmers Association in Malita received twenty (20) goats, respectively. Meanwhile, Tacul Farmers Association, Inc., which remains the sole farmer’s group to receive SAAD projects in the province of Davao del Sur in Kiblawan, has received twenty (20) goats.

“Importante ni nga masugdan na nato ug hatag atong animal-based intervention this year para naa nay matarbaho atong mga FAs. Kaning mga upgraded goats, maayo kaayo ni for repopulation sa atong mga areas, unta mapalungtad nila,” said SAAD Davao Region’s Community Development Officer II Joed Orig.

[This project is important that we’ve started it, especially as an animal-based intervention this year so that our FAs have something to look after for. Our upgraded goats are great for repopulation in the areas distributed. I hope the FAs will sustain it.]

Six more FAs will receive the same project before the month ends. Recent inclement weather conditions in the region prevented the remaining distributions. 

At ages ranging 8-10 months with at least 17 kilogram in weight upon distribution, these small ruminants pose better monetary rewards for beneficiaries as liveweight pricing per kilo in the region starts at Php 250.00. In SAAD’s Phase 1 of implementation in Davao Region, a goat beneficiary in Maragusan, Davao de Oro, saw personal success in goat-raising. 

Further details can be found here: https://saad.da.gov.ph/2022/11/herding-her-future-saad-farmer-bought-lot-built-house-from-goat-raising-income  

SAAD Davao Region reconstituted funds for the project for a little more than Php 2.3M.###

Writer: James Brian Flaga, SAAD Davao Region PRDC
Photographer: Ronell Tangonan, SAAD Davao Region PRDC
Source: DA-SAAD Davao Region