At the forefront of the Department of Agriculture’s Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program is a firm commitment to inclusivity - ensuring that no one is left behind in the journey toward rural development. Guided by the principle of sama-sama, SAAD...
With a carabao now plowing their land, hauling their copra, and carrying produce to market, Juvie and Jeysiel Saturno’s dream of owning their own farm helper has finally come true. And it all started with the income they earned from the Corn Production Project of the...
With hands calloused from decades of labor and a back strengthened by years in the field, 54-year-old Evangeline Duhisan of Barangay Kapamanok, San Pablo, Zamboanga del Sur stands proud, blooming like the vegetables she tirelessly cultivates in her half-hectare...
Beyond the visible inputs of seeds and machinery, effective bookkeeping stands as a fundamental, yet often overlooked, tool for successful farmers' cooperatives and associations (FCAs). This crucial skill transforms a group of farmers into a transparent, sustainable...
Sixteen (16) youth members of the Casapa Livestock Raisers Association (CLiRA) in Jiabong, Samar proved that an agricultural enterprise achieving over a million pesos is not a far reach. Through the livelihood support provided by the Special Area for Agricultural...
Development programs often seek to improve economic indicators, but their definitive success lies in their impact on human lives. In Mercedes, Eastern Samar, the Buyayawon Farmers Association (BFA) achieved this by leveraging the Special Area for Agricultural...
The first quarter of 2025 has witnessed a significant undertaking within Northern Samar's agricultural communities, as the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program Phase 2 strategically invests in the foundational capacities of 13 recipient farmers’...
Like the developing roads reaching their community, a new chapter of opportunity is beginning for the farmers of Barangay Saray, who had previously faced setbacks in their efforts to become a formal group. The Saray Maliliit Farmers Association (SMFA), a collective of...
Beginning with a few pesos – initially from their membership fees and monthly dues, the Samahan ng mga Magsasaka at Nangingisda ng Brgy. Mascariña, Quezon, Quezon (SAMANA) have built their own financial empowerment demonstrating that even small amounts, when pooled...
"Babai nak." (I am a woman.) These were the words that crossed Editha Turon’s mind when she was nominated to lead the Virbira Farmers Association in Barangay Virbira, Carasi, Ilocos Norte. At 64 years old, she has long answered that question - not with words, but with...