Zambo Norte SAAD farmers earn while on quarantine

 By Rene V. Carbayas

 

ZAMBOANGA CITY, Oct 21 (PIA) – Government supported communal garden has helped Zamboanga del Norte farmers earn more while on community quarantine.

 

Buenavista Farmers Association President Chona Palubon revealed they utilized the half-hectare land that the local government unit offered in 2020. They started engaging in vegetable production during the first SAAD project given to the association in 2018.

 

“Our Vegetable Production Project encouraged us to plant different kinds of vegetables in our respective backyards. At first, we noticed that some of the members fail so we decided to establish this communal garden,” Palubon said.

The association harvested about 1,920 pieces of squash and sold it to a private buyer at ₱20.00 (big) and ₱18.00 (small) each.

The Buenavista Farmers Association, a farmer-partner of the Department of Agriculture-Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program harvested one ton of squash, earning them over 30 thousand pesos from their communal garden on September 16, 2021.

 

“We have seen a bigger income compared to when we were having our individual gardens, but we still maintain our individual gardens because through this we have a connection among us farmers,” Palubon added.

 

The group members gather every Wednesday to maintain the communal vegetable garden. Vegetables such as cabbage, ampalaya, tomato, and squash, among others are planted in the garden, from which the SAAD provided the seeds.

 

"The best part about this SAAD Program is it provides packaged interventions. From the main inputs such as seeds and fertilizers, the farming tools such as drums, bolo and knapsack sprayers, including knowledge support by giving us social preparation and trainings. They give us not just these tangible inputs but also the learnings that surely will never be taken away from us,” the association president said.

 

Despite these trying times during the pandemic, the DA-SAAD remains committed to facilitate in improving the farmers' quality of life by providing them their most needed assistance.

 

Zamboanga del Norte is on modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) status in the entire province starting October 16. (EDT/RVC/PIA9 with reports from Aimee Lou Madjus/DA-RFO IX, RAFIS)