Farmers from the Kaulayanan Strawberry Growers Association (KSGA) in Barangay Kaulayanan, Sugbongcogon in Misamis Oriental have taken a strategic step to diversify their livelihood by venturing into chili production, with support from the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program in Northern Mindanao.
This shift to chili cultivation came after the group temporarily halted its initial plan to produce strawberries, demonstrating the farmers’ resilience and ability to adapt to changing conditions.
Last February 2026, the association planted around 2,000 hills of chili, with harvest expectations set for June this year. Once harvested, the group anticipates a weekly yield of 20 to 40 kilograms.
According to the farmer-beneficiaries, the produce will be sold at prices ranging from Php 30 to Php 40 per kilogram, primarily to their buyer at the Westbound Public Market in Bulua, Cagayan de Oro City.
Support from the SAAD Program has been key in jumpstarting the project. As one of the farmers’ associations covered by the Program in Misamis Oriental, the KSGA members received various interventions, including 100 packs of chili seeds and 325 bags of fertilizers, under the High-Value Crops Production Project in 2025.
This year, the association is also set to receive additional agricultural inputs under the Enhanced High-Value Crops Production Project, amounting to Php 645,500. The inputs include bags of different fertilizers, molasses, sweet corn seeds, various vegetable seeds, seedling trays, plastic mulch, frass cutters, knapsacks, wheelbarrows, and other essential garden tools.
These resources are targeted to improve productivity and crop quality, ensuring the farmers’ capacity to sustain and grow their enterprise. ###
