TUGUEGARAO CITY, August 27, 2024 – A total of 150 farmer beneficiaries from five farmer associations (FAs) in Cagayan Valley under the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program underwent training last July to August 2024 to capacitate its beneficiaries on Basic Bookkeeping and Record-keeping.

With each having 30 participants, the trained FAs were Cabaleng San Isidro Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (CASIFA-Coop) of Santa Praxedes, Cagayan; La Paz Agriculture and Fishery Farmers Association (LAFFA) of Saguday, Quirino; Dur-as Farmers’ Association of San Isidro, Isabela; Nag-et Farmers Association from Villaverde, Nueva Vizcaya; and the Kayvayvanan Umhakaw nu Basco of Basco, Batanes.

The month-long training was conducted in clusters in the provinces of Cagayan, Quirino, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya and Batanes. Joining the SAAD Region 2 officers were Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) representatives, Senior Business Counselor Krisha C. Custodio, Business Name Processor Mr. Reymart S. Menor, Information Officer and Social Media Account Manager Shane Karenza Alexia B. Horlina from DTI Batanes Trade Industry Development Specialist Mr. Leumar M. Viernes from DTI Isabela; and Negosyo Center Business Counselors from DTI Nueva Vizcaya Kristine Dian Calimag and Reymart Manzano who served as resource persons during the training. 

The farmers, in return, were receptive to the learnings they got from the training and expressed gratitude for SAAD’s unending guidance to develop their associations.

Mr. Gilbert Respicio, the president of CASIFA-Cooperative in Santa Praxedes said that despite years of being a farmer, he admitted that they still have much to learn, hence, they are grateful for the practical and new perspectives they have acquired through the training conducted by SAAD. 

“Napakagandang programa ng gobyerno ang SAAD dahil dito namin natutunan ang tamang proseso ng pagtatanim at pag-aalaga ng hayop sa pamamagitan ng mga training. Malaki ang pasasalamat namin sa programang ito dahil sa pagkakataong ibinigay sa amin upang maitaas ang antas ng aming pamumuhay. Sana magtuloy-tuloy pa itong SAAD upang marami pa silang matulungan tulad naming mga ordinaryong magsasaka,” Respicio said.

In Quirino, LAFFA President Jovencio Ramos takes pride in raising the cattle from DA-SAAD saying that in less than a year, all ten heifers are now pregnant. He added that their association has greatly changed because of SAAD’s interventions.

“Dakkel ti nagbaliwan daytoy asosasionmi sipud idi dimteng ti SAAD ta adu ti impaayda kas iti baka, bukbukel, makinaria, mushroom building, power sprayer, ken dadduma pay. Ita, masikog amin a 10 a bakami ken agmula kami manen iti natnateng ken uong. Agpaspasalamatkami ta dakkel a banag a mainayon iti panagtalon dagitoy intedda,” Ramos said.

(The interventions we have received, including cattle, seeds, machinery, a mushroom house, and a power sprayer, helped our association. Our ten heifers are now pregnant, and we are busy preparing to plant vegetables and mushrooms for the second time. These projects are significantly boosting our income.)

The training was part of the marketing assistance and enterprise development component of SAAD program which aims to prepare the covered associations to become community-based enterprises.

Meanwhile, an Isabela Provincial Agriculturist representative, Ms. Mailyn Acob, showed appreciation to the SAAD Program and ensured the province’s support to the farmers within their jurisdiction.

“We are hopeful for the success of the association through SAAD’s guidance and support and we hope that they continue to value and develop the livelihood projects given to them,” Acob said.

The participants in the said training are all pilot areas of the SAAD Program in 2023 and received cattle, assorted vegetables, and mushroom production livelihood projects.###

Writer: Pearl Lovedyn A. Dacuag, SAAD Cagayan Valley Information Officer