The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development Program (DA-SAAD) Central Visayas conducted specialized training to twenty-two (22) farmers’ associations (FAS) in Bohol tailored to the needs of their respective projects from May 12–14, 2026 and May 19–21, 2026.
The projects implemented among the 22 farmers’ associations include chicken egg production, high-value crop production, livestock production and fattening, swine fattening, among others. The specialized training aimed to enhance the knowledge and skills of local farmers by focusing on the unique requirements of their chosen agricultural enterprises.
The training was a collaborative undertaking of the DA Central Visayas, led by SAAD Regional Program Management Support Office (RPMSO) and facilitated by personnel from the Regional Crop Protection Center (RCPC) under the Integrated Laboratory Division (ILD), alongside representatives from the Ubay Stock Farm (USF) and Bohol Experiment Station (BES) of the Research Division. In addition, resource persons from the National Dairy Authority (NDA), Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM), Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV) of Bohol, and the Municipal Agriculturist Office of LGU-Dimiao also shared their expertise during the said activity.
Various topics on crop and livestock production, including pest identification and disease management in high-value crops, poultry nutrition and management, animal health care and management in cattle, and organic vegetable production were included in the training.
Representatives from Bounty Plus Inc. and Mylora Corporation facilitated discussions on poultry nutrition and management, while the BSWM delivered technical sessions on organic vegetable production, composting facilities for biodegradable wastes, and other relevant technologies suited to the needs of the farmer associations.
One of the participating groups was the Villa Aurora Farmers Association in Barangay Villa Aurora, Dagohoy, Bohol, which received projects on carabao and ube production. Through the SAAD Program, association members were introduced to ube farming and were able to plant ube in their backyards for the first time. However, due to limited knowledge in production management, the association experienced challenges during their initial production cycle.
Clarissa Jamilo, Senior Science Research Specialist from the Department of Agriculture – Bohol Experiment Station in Central Visayas (DA7-BES), discussed ube production technologies and cultural management practices. The famous Ubi Kinampay of Bohol was also highlighted during the discussion.
Jamilo further shared information on market demand trends, uses, nutritional content, and production management practices, including proper variety selection, soil and climatic requirements, harvesting, and post-harvest handling. She emphasized that ube is a highly sensitive commodity, especially during its vegetative stage and handling processes.
For the association, they hope for better production upon learning the ways of Ube Production management. The association also expressed plans to expand its production to meet the growing demand for Ubi Kinampay. Beyond farming, the group envisions establishing processing ventures such as ube jam production to create higher-value products and generate a more sustainable source of income.
“Among paningkamotan nga mapadaghan ang ubi nga gihatag sa SAAD aron mailhan mi nga ang Villa Aurora Farmers Association usa sa mga producer sa ubi kinampay diri sa Bohol,” shared Basilia A. Mahilom, President of the Villa Aurora Farmers Association.
(We will strive to increase production of ube provided through SAAD so that the Villa Aurora Farmers Association will be recognized as one of the producers of Ubi Kinampay here in Bohol.)
The specialized training reflects the DA-SAAD Program’s commitment to empowering farmers through technical knowledge and sustainable agricultural practices, helping strengthen livelihoods and improve productivity among farming communities.
