To strengthen its partnership with local stakeholders, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 2 launched a series of Stakeholder Consultation Meetings this July 2025.
The consultation is part of the program’s support to farmers, to assess the status and progress of ongoing projects and identify areas where farmer-beneficiaries need support, especially in managing their livelihood projects.
Farmer associations from the municipalities of Remedios T. Romualdez (RTR) in Agusan del Norte, and Alegria, Tagana-an, and Santa Monica in Surigao del Norte took part in the activity (see Table 1).
Table 1. List of FAs conducted Stakeholder’s Consultation Meeting in the month of July 2025
Province | FA | Project | Date conducted |
Remedios T. Romualdez, Agusan del Norte | Balangbalang Banana Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (BABAFAC) | Banana and Egg Production Project | July 1, 2025 |
San Antonio Farmers Organization (SAFO) | Abaca Production Project | ||
Alegria, Surigao del Norte | San Juan Abaca Farmers Association (SJAFA) | Abaca and Egg Production Project | July 1, 2025 |
United Farmers Association of Camp Edward (UFACE) | Cacao and Banana Production Project | ||
Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte | California Farmers Association (CFA) | Egg Production and Pineapple Project | July 8, 2025 |
Union SAAD Farmers Association (USFA) | Banana and Egg Production Project | ||
Santa Monica, Surigao del Norte | Abad Santos Farmers Association (ASFA) | Pineapple and Camote Production Project | July 8, 2025 |
Bailan Farmer Entrepreneur’s Association (BAFEA) | Goat and Ube Production Project |
In the remaining weeks of the month, more farmer associations (FAs) in Caraga are scheduled to join stakeholder consultation meetings. These include groups from San Benito (July 23), Pilar (July 24), and General Luna, Surigao del Norte, as well as Libjo, Dinagat Islands (July 29). Additional consultations are also planned for August and September in other municipalities.
The consultations cover various topics, including project implementation highlights, progress in fund utilization, the status of community-based enterprises, challenges encountered and actions taken, and best practices shared by the groups.
UFACE Chairperson Eugenio Papa thanked SAAD for organizing the activity, saying it gave them the chance to raise concerns, gain advice, and learn strategies that they can apply to improve their projects.
“Pasalamat ko sa programa sa pagpahigayon sama aning stakeholders meeting, tungod dako kini ikatabang sa grupo bisan aduna’y mga hagit sa pagpadagan sa proyekto ug sa grupo. Nakahatag kani namo og kadasig ug kahigayunan nga maka padayag mi sa among mga isyu ug unsay mga posibilidad nga mga solusyon.”
(I am grateful to the program for conducting this stakeholders’ meeting because it greatly helps our group, especially in facing challenges in managing both the project and the organization. It encouraged us and gave us the opportunity to openly share our concerns and explore possible solutions.)
Engaging with stakeholders supports the program’s vision of sustaining projects by empowering farmer groups through capacity-building workshops. These efforts aim to improve food production, strengthen community-based enterprises (CBEs), and help them reach wider markets. In turn, these thriving CBEs can also support other farmers in nearby communities.