DA rolls out special agricultural

development program in Bohol

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Nov. 22 (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Central Visayas rolled out Phase 2 of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program in the province of Bohol on Nov. 21.

For SAAD Phase 2, a total of 550 farmers in the province were identified to receive projects and interventions for the next six years as the program will run from 2023 to 2028.

Eleven municipalities, namely Albur, Anda, Batuan, Clarin, Cortes, Dagohoy, Lila, Loay, San Isidro, Sevilla and Sikatuna, were incorporated into Phase 2 of the program.

To attain the program’s aim to help improve the lives of farmers in remote areas through livelihood projects, specialized training, and marketing of products, SAAD National Director Ulysses J. Lustria Jr. asked for help promoting the program.

“E-promote po natin yung SAAD. Let’s continuously defend our budget, yearly kasi ang defense ng budget ng SAAD,” Lustria said, as he also hopes that the program will be institutionalized in the future.

“Malay natin after Phase 2, maging institutionalize na yung SAAD. Di natin alam, vision po natin yun,” Lustria added.

Seeds from SAAD

Mario Lagura, farmer beneficiary from Bien Unido town, shared how the program helped his family recover from the wrath of typhoon Odette in 2021, which ruined not only their house but also their livelihood.

“Sa bag-o pa mobagyo ang Odette, aduna nay mga nadawat nakong binhi sama sa mais ug mani nga gikan sa SAAD. Ang maong mga binhi ang akong gipule og tanom sa mga tanom nako nga gilarot ug gilabay sa bagyong Odette (Before typhoon Odette, I received seeds such as corn and peanuts from SAAD. Those seeds are the ones that I transplanted from the plants that were uprooted and thrown away by typhoon Odette),” Lagura narrated.

He thanked the SAAD program for helping support his family’s daily needs and sending his children to school.

Sevilla Mayor Juliet Dano thanked DA-SAAD Central Visayas for partnering with LGUs in the implementation of the SAAD program in the province.

Top performing SAAD

Along with the launch of SAAD Phase 2, the top-performing SAAD Phase 1 in the province was also recognized based on their accomplishments, project management, and innovativeness.

The top performers in SAAD Phase 1 include Renante C. Daguig of Minol Rice and Vegetables Farmers Association (MRVFA), Nenita E. Rosas of Taytay SAAD Farmers Association (TASAFA), and Melinda B. Binondo of Campamanog Carabao and Vegetables Farmer’s Association (CACAVEFA).

SAAD is the agriculture department's special program to curb the effects of socio-economic poverty in conflict-stricken, isolated and calamity-vulnerable areas in the country by providing agri-livelihood projects to rural farmers.

SAAD will assist and equip the farmer-beneficiaries from the production to the marketing phase until they engage in the commercial production of rice, corn, livestock, or high-value crops.

SAAD will continuously assist the farmer’s cooperatives and associations within the six-year period until they can independently manage their enterprises. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)

As partners and stakeholders of the SAAD Phase 2 Program, local government unit partners pledge their commitment to the program in Bohol during the SAAD Phase 2 launching on Nov. 21, 2023 in Tagbilaran City. (ECB/PIA7 Bohol)