To improve banana farming practices and equip farmers with essential skills, the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Davao conducted a two-day specialized training for the Matabang Pagsayawan Liloan Farmers Association (MAPALIFA) on February 3-4, 2026, in Sitio Matabang, Taocanga, Manay, Davao Oriental.
The training enhanced the skills of local farmers and helped them improve both the quality and quantity of their banana crops. MAPALIFA, which consists of 50 members, had previously received 10,000 Banana Lakatan plantlets worth Php 400,000 last December 2025.
The session, led by agricultural technologists Jovanie Albert Pandac and Guillan Joy O. Bansag from the Municipal Agriculture Office of Manay, provided farmers with valuable insights into banana cultivation techniques to improve crop quality and quantity. With the support of the Provincial Agriculturist of Davao Oriental Enya Cordero Amahit, Municipal Agriculturist of Manay Renerio G. Tumanbing, and SAAD Focal Person Francis Nova Joy Pusta, who offered guidance and encouragement to the participants throughout the event.
In his remarks, Jovanie A. Pandac emphasized the importance of the training: “Ang maong training usa ka dakong tabang sa atoang mga mag-uuma aron mapalambo ang kalidad sa produksyon nila ug makatabang sa pag-sustenir sa ilahang panginabuhian.”
(This training is a great help to our farmers in improving the quality of their lakatan production and contributing to the sustainability of their livelihood.)
Association Chairman Marcelino C. Magno expressed his gratitude for the training, noting its positive impact on the association: “Dako mi og pasalamat sa SAAD, PAGRO ug MAGRO para ani nga higayon, aron mas mapalambo namo among mga lakatan, dungag nga kalamboan alang sa amoang asosasyon sa puhon na mga harvest.”
(We are very grateful to SAAD, PAGRO, and MAGRO for this opportunity to further improve our bananas, which will bring additional development to our association in the future harvest.)
Looking forward, SAAD Davao is set to provide an additional 9,500 Lakatan banana plantlets this year, further boosting the association’s banana production and enhancing sustainable livelihoods for its members.
By empowering farmers with modern techniques and resources, SAAD creates long-term improvements in local banana farming, benefiting the farmers’ livelihood and ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality crops for the region.###
