DAVAO OCCIDENTAL, February 28, 2024 – Twenty-five (25) B’laan Indigenous Peoples farmers from Dalupan Renewable Energy Community Development Association (DARECDA) received training on abaca best farming practices from the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) program.

The training aims to capacitate DARECDA who is set to receive two production projects from SAAD Davao Region this year: abaca plantlets and goats. An IP-led and IP-centric farmers association in Dalupan, Don Marcelino, the FA aims to help farmers in the community via agri-related interventions.

“Nagpasalamat ko sa inyohang panahon, sa higayon nga gihatag ninyo para ani. Nagpabilin ang DARECDA hangtod karon kay tungod sa inyong pagsuporta. Kining mga ahensiya karon, dili ni basta-basta mutunol ug ingon ani nga proyekto. Mao ng maningkamot kita,” Geniars Masayao, chairperson for DARECDA, said.

[We’re grateful for the time that you’ve given for this training. DARECDA remains as an FA because of your support. These agencies that are here right now, they don’t easily provide projects like these, so we will strive to make the most out of it.]

SAAD Davao Region’s abaca production project will distribute twelve thousand (12,000) abaca plantlets with fertilizers to nine farmers associations (FAs) across three provinces of the region. As part of the program’s food production and livelihood (FPL) activities, farmers need to undergo proper training to ensure the project’s sustainability. The remaining eight (8) FAs will receive the same training before the end of March. 

Abaca Training

To facilitate the training, SAAD Davao Region partnered with the Philippine Fiber Industry Development Authority (PhilFIDA) and Don Marcelino’s local Municipal Agriculture Office (MAGRO) as resource persons.

Through the training, farmers are educated not only with the scientific approach to abaca farming, but practical experience and locality-based knowledge as well.

Addressing the farmers, Naomi Lamata, SAAD Davao Region’s Alternate Assistant Focal, emphasized, “Gihimo ang SAAD para sa mga farmers nga naa sa lagyo ug lisod nga aboton nga mga lugar. Ang ginahatag sa SAAD, pwede masukdan, mamahimong panginabuhian. Unta kaning mga proyektoha nga ihatag sa inyoha, mutunhay para daghan pa ang muabotay.”

[SAAD was created for farmers in far-flung and disadvantaged areas. What SAAD gives are projects that become livelihood. Hopefully these projects will last so that more projects will come.]

###

#SAADPhase2 #DASAAD #DASAADDavaoRegion #OKKAAYO

Writer: James Brian Flaga, SAAD Davao Region PRDC

Photographer: Ronell Tangonan, SAAD Davao Region PRDC

Source: DA-SAAD Davao Regio