CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) — Farmers belonging to a poultry-raisers’ cooperative in Romblon were given free range chickens, veterinary medicines and supplies and livestock paraphernalia under the guidance of the Department of Agriculture- Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA- SAAD) in the Mimaropa region.
The San Isidro Livestock and Poultry Producers Association, composed of 25 members, received a total amount of P119,325 in livelihood intervention from the department under the Free-Range Chicken Production Project.
In order to augment the assistance given by DA-SAAD, Rufina Mercano, a resident of Barangay San Isidro, lends her 800 sqm.lot, to be used by the association in building chicken coops. Members of the association plan to start their production as early as January next year. Aside from brgy. San Isidro, they also eye other neighboring barangays like Tablas Island as potential markets for their upcoming products.
Meanwhile, the beneficiaries of the intervention have expressed their gratitude towards the government by providing them alternative means of livelihood.
“Ang ating gobyerno ay nagpupursige na tayo po ay tulungan at alam ko, kung umangat man ang ating kabuhayan [ay] dahil sa pagtulong ng gobyerno na hindi tayo pinababayaan. Ito po ay isang malaking karangalan ng ating inang bayan at ng ating barangay dahil sila ay hindi nagkamali sa pagpili ng ating samahan dahil tayo ay nagkakaisa at nagtutulungan,” said Lemuel Galindez, president of the association.
Prior to the decision of DA-SAAD in providing the association with livelihood intervention related to free-range chicken production, the group underwent a Beneficiary Needs Assessment (BNA) wherein upon assessment, the association was best suited in free-range production. (JJGS/PIA Mimaropa)
Topmost photo courtesy of DA-SAAD MIMAROPA
