At least eight farmer groups joined the Department of Agriculture (DA) 13 (Caraga Region) and its attached agencies in conducting a daylong Kadiwa ng Pangulo Serbisyo Fair in General Luna, Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte on Wednesday.

“The activity aims to encourage farmers in Siargao to continue their productive farming to meet the food needs, especially in areas where tourism is booming,” Arlan Mangelen, DA-13 director, said in an interview.

Mangelen said the initiative also aims to enable residents and tourists to purchase fresh and affordable vegetables, fruits, and other agricultural products from the Kadiwa ng Pangulo services.

DA-13 and its partner agencies also provided seeds and planting materials to participating local farmers.

During the event, about 80,000 coconut seedlings were distributed to four organizations and the San Isidro town government.

Other groups also received 5,000 sweet potato cuttings, 300 heads of free-range chickens, 400 calamansi planting materials, 110 American lemon planting materials, and 800 mushroom fruiting bags.

More income

Among the groups from Butuan City that joined the activity was the Sumilihon-Taguibo Famers Association (STFA), which used the hauling truck provided by the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program to bring more than 3,500 kg. of vegetables and other farm products to the island.

“The Kadiwa ng Pangulo has allowed us to market our products around the region directly and sell out more than 90 percent of our products,” said Lydia Aparre, the president of STFA.

Aparre said their organization typically earns PHP60,000 to PHP70,000 in gross sales during Kadiwa ng Pangulo events.

Estrella Sonia, 62, a vegetable farmer from Barangay Nueva Estrella, Socorro town in Siargao, acknowledged the government for the opportunity to sell her farm products during the Kadiwa activity.

“My one-hectare farm now produces vegetables, fruits, and upland rice. Through our association, with the support of the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program, I was allowed to establish markets, especially here in General Luna, where tourism is thriving,” Sonia said.

Another farmer, Elvin Salade from San Benito town, also hauled his vegetable harvest for display at the Kadiwa activity.

“General Luna is a good market for us vegetable farmers because of the number of restaurants and eateries. Through our cooperative, we are regularly delivering our vegetable harvests here,” he said.

Salade said the Kadiwa ng Pangulo program has also provided their cooperative with a hauling truck regularly utilized by the members, especially in marketing their products. (PNA)