The Department of Agriculture IX - Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program conducted a Technical Training on Coffee Production and Free-range Native Chicken Raising to 60 members of Nacibac Mountainside Farmers Association in barangay Nacibac, Municipality of Leon Postigo, Zamboanga del Norte on November 25, 2020.
The one-day training was held at the Nacibac barangay covered court. It aimed to equip the farmers with knowledge on proper management on coffee and native chicken, so as to ably sustain their livelihood projects for income and job generation.
DA9 HVCDP expert George Vallente served as a resource speaker and discussed related topics on Coffee Production Management, such as: the Coffee Plantation Establishment, Plantation Care and Maintenance, and Harvest and Post-harvest Operations. Likewise, the Municipal Livestock technician Danilo Busca presented a lecture on Native Chicken Raising and Management.
SAAD Local Area Coordinator Marisol Opinio disclosed that the association supposedly will receive a Swine Raising Project, however, because of the increasing concerns of African Swine Fever (ASF), they decided to provide Free-range Native Chicken Raising Project instead.
Barangay Chairperson Joyji Geromo gratefully shared that since 2017, the DA-SAAD has taken a huge role in transforming their lives into so much better.
"Our community considers farming as their way of living since we are located in a very marginalized area. Providing us with these projects is also providing us opportunities to improve our source of income and attain economic growth in our barangay," said Geromo.
GETTING THERE
Nacibac is located 25 kilometers from the main highway of Leon Postigo. The barangay is also tagged as an ELCAC community and is known for its rough terrain.
The DA9-SAAD Team with ZaNorte Agriculture Program Coordinator George Vallente took a habal-habal motorcycle ride, passing a stretch of a difficult, uneven roads to reach the venue. The habal fare charged PhP500.00 per person.
NASIBAC MOUNTAINSIDE FA
The Nacibac Mountainside FA is one of the beneficiaries of the DA-SAAD program since 2017 and have benefitted from livelihood projects on Upland Rice Production, White and Yellow Corn Production, Swine Raising, and Vegetable Production.
This year, they received 6,666 coffee seedlings and 60 bags of complete fertilizer for their communal project.
They are also scheduled to receive 170 heads of male and 16 heads of female native chickens, as well as 35 bags of poultry feeds on December 4, 2020.
The SAAD program continuously commits in reaching the poorest farmers in Zamboanga del Norte and providing them with assistance to uplift their way of life.# (Aimee Lou D. Madjus/DA9)
Author: Aimee Lou D. Madjus
Agency: Department of Agriculture IX- Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD)
Original article link: https://www.facebook.com/Department-of-Agriculture-SAAD-Zampen-590354828308528/photos/pcb.681042155906461/681039939240016/
