Members of Samahan ng Magsasaka ng Ambil join hand-in-hand in transporting the farm inputs and equipment awarded to them via boat to their island barangay, Ambil (Photo credit: SAAD Mimaropa).
SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) – The Department of Agriculture-Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Mimaropa awarded P2,445,905.56 worth of agricultural interventions to three farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs) in pursuit of providing sustainable livelihood to marginalized farmers in the island municipality of Looc.
The Samahan ng Magsasaka ng Ambil, comprising 26 beneficiaries, received 600 liters of NPK and micronutrient liquid fertilizers, one unit of hermetic storage cocoon, a hand tractor with complete accessories, and one pump and engine with complete accessories, too.
The beneficiaries of the program are mostly engaged in lowland rice production, cultivating an estimated area of 20 hectares.
Additionally, 54 corn producers from the Samahan ng Magsasaka ng Balikyas cultivating an 85 hectare land area will benefit from 500 liters of NPK and micronutrient liquid fertilizers, 50 bags of hybrid corn seeds, one unit of hand tractor, and a pump and engine.
On the other hand, 25 heads of cattle were awarded to the Samahan ng Magsasaka ng Bulacan composed of 62 beneficiaries.
Dr. Celso Olido and Marissa Vargas of SAAD Program Mimaropa reminded the beneficiaries to take care and cultivate the projects given to them.
“Gusto namin (na) itong ipinamigay ng SAAD ay gamitin ninyo para lalo pa tayong umunlad at kumita ang kabuhayan at umangat ang ating pamumuhay sa mga bara-barangay. Iyan po ang layunin ng SAAD, na umunlad tayo, maraming kumita, para umunlad ang ekonomiya.” (We want you to use the interventions from SAAD so we can grow more, and our lives in our barangays will improve. This is the goal of SAAD – for us to grow, earn more, so that the economy will prosper),” Olido said.
The DA-SAAD Program Mimaropa staff led the turnover, with representatives from the local government unit, and the office of the house of representative of Occidental Mindoro were present during the turnover.
The SAAD Program Mimaropa is currently in its second phase, including Looc as one of its beneficiaries in the region, which aims to reduce poverty incidence among marginalized sectors through providing livelihood assistance. (DSG/PIA Mimaropa-OccMin)
