At least 27 farmer organizations in Agusan del Sur and Surigao del Sur provinces are recipients of different livelihood projects this year under the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program of the Department of Agriculture in Caraga Region (DA-13).

DA-13 SAAD focal person Jekem Sanchez said Wednesday that as of last month, a total of PHP20,387,451 worth of livelihood projects have been released to the farmers’ groups.

“Most of these livelihood projects are on abaca and cacao productions, chicken and goat productions,” Sanchez said.

In Agusan del Sur, six farmers’ groups from the towns of Veruela, San Luis, and Talacogon received PHP8,389,807 worth of projects this year.

Of the total amount, Veruela received an appropriation of PHP3,306,687; San Luis, PHP2,622,225; Tagalocon, PHP2,460,895.

In Surigao del Sur, at least 21 farmers’ organizations also benefited from the SAAD program through native chicken, goat, corn, and abaca productions with a total cost of PHP11,997,643. The recipients are in the towns of Bayabas, Carmen, Lingig, and Bislig City.

DA-13 data showed that PHP1,996,430 was allotted to four farmers’ groups in Bayabas town; PHP5,214,570 to five groups in Carmen; PHP2,674,478 to seven groups in Lingig; and PHP2,112,165 to five groups in Bislig City.

“Before, we used to strip our abaca harvests manually. With the help of the SAAD program of the DA, we are provided with stripping machines that helped our abaca production grow,” Muritula USAD Farmers’ Association (MuFA) president Santos Escalicas said.

Based in San Luis, Agusan del Sur, MuFA is one of the recipients of the SAAD project this year. It also received assistance from SAAD from 2019 to 2021 which helped its 50 members fully develop their 70-hectare abaca plantation in the area. (PNA)