SAADTALÁAN SAAD 6, LGU PARTNER FOR FARMERS' LIVELIHOOD PROJECTS

By Christ John Gamarcha and Cedie Bataga

While the program is executing the budget for the current year (FY 2023), the Regional Program Management Support Office (RPMSO) of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) 6 reached out to the local government units (LGUs) and partner agencies to solicit assistance, and initiate meaningful partnership in preparation for the forthcoming FY 2024 implementation through the presentation of livelihood project proposals in each municipality.

The RPMSO 6 led the two-day strategic planning workshop in Iloilo City on May 1112, along with 20 LGU representatives from nine (9) recipient municipalities in the five (5) provinces of Antique, Aklan, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental, as well as their respective Agricultural Program Coordinating Officers (APCOs).

Their objective was to tailor-fit future projects based on beneficiaries’ dynamics on agricultural production such as their local farming practices, planting season, and commodity specialization, utilizing the results of the recently-conducted Beneficiary Needs Assessment (BNA), and formulate directions appropriate for the next years.

To widen linkages during the program roll-out in the region, the implementers also involved in the activity the various DA Regional Field Office (RFO) 6 divisions such as Planning, Engineering, and Agri-Marketing Assistance Also involved were representatives from the Provincial Agriculture Offices of Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, and Guimaras

Mr. Dominador Marquez, Regional Technical Director for Operations and Extension, highlighted in his welcome remarks the importance of inter-agency collaboration and the whole-of-nation approach in project implementation to ensure project sustainability and success

He also encouraged LGU partners to implement livelihood projects guided by the program’s ultimate goal of contributing to poverty reduction among marginalized farmers.

Mr Andrew Palomar, SAAD Alternate Focal Person, spearheaded the activity and introduced its rationale and objectives He presented the program’s implementation guidelines which are vital in the process of creating the workshop outputs Further, Regional Report Officer Mr. Michael Deve Perez led an orientation on the program’s logical framework, selection of target beneficiaries, budget projections, and targets

The LGU counterparts, assisted by the Regional Technical Staff, crafted program plans aligned to the beneficiary’s needs and formulated directions appropriate for the next implementing years.

The conduct of such activity will further harmonize the FY 2024 project proposals with the farmers’ current situation. This strategy is part of the program’s bottom-up approach involving local leaders to further promote collaboration, foster partnership, and allow them a sense of ownership of the livelihood projects received.

The municipal project proposals underwent critiquing from selected panels to ensure compliance with the set guidelines and physical targets of the program Following this, agreements and ways forward were collated

Ways Forward

Finally, APCO-Iloilo Gareth Bayate commended all LGU counterparts for their active participation and urged them to consider the quality of the interventions and projects to be provided to the beneficiaries

“My appeal to our partners in the implementation of the SAAD Program is to give our farmers the best services they deserve. I encourage you not to compromise the quality of our projects as long as they are within our budget,” he emphasized

Of the 34 targeted farmers associations (FAs) listed as beneficiaries, 13 will be receiving livestock and poultry-related projects, six (6) will be receiving corn-related projects, and 15 will get high-value crops-related projects. Initial deliveries and distribution of farm inputs and implements have started in the covered municipalities this May and will continue in the remaining months

For sustained livelihood assistance to the identified FAs, SAAD will cover the same municipalities and farmer groups in FY 2024 with provisions for supplemental projects. ###

BREAKING AWAY FROM TRADITIONAL GENDER ROLES:

HOW SAAD HELP TRANSFORM PRIMARY HOMEMAKERS INTO ECONOMIC MOVERS

By Cedie Bataga

IS THE FACE OF FARMING FEMALE?

Equality. Women Empowerment. Gender Development. These are only among the hottest topics on the modern pages, whether print or online, but we are still left with a question: are these altogether succinctly streamlined to the masses to make women in the agriculture sector visible? – to create equal opportunities? – to achieve an inclusive environment?

Before, it cannot be denied that women had been neglected from all sorts of support –in education, in social and political engagements, in technology, or even in one of the most basic industries – agriculture.

Women are crucial resources in agriculture but they often serve as subordinates of their husbands, merely playing the role of assistants to their male counterparts. Social structures like this have opened the gender gap in the field of agriculture, not only does this suggest a disparity between the genders but also associates women’s roles as mere homemakers, with subsidiary and inferior roles as men, limiting their involvement in crucial issues and in decision-making.

However, advocacies and efforts related to amplifying the cause of women’s involvement and participation to achieve an inclusive society, are now all-encompassing. The local agriculture sector, in particular, has deviated from the traditional gender norms – engaging women farmers in the field to achieve the overarching goal of growing economies.

The seemingly never-ending struggle for equality has been turned to opportunities involving women farmers. The Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA), if not pioneered, became allies of this movement by creating opportunities and enabling environment for women alongside its priority thrust of empowering the agricultural labor force and promoting agricultural development in general.

Breaking Barriers The Saad Way

When we talk about agriculture, rarely do we approach the issues at hand through the gender lens However, in an article published by Oxfam International (2023), barriers such as gender inequality hold back women from accentuating their capacity in farming

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data released in December 2021, women comprised about 15.0% or 2,272,000 of the total workforce employed in the agriculture sector in 2020 Despite their continued participation in an agricultural setting, they are still marginalized in terms of basic services, employment income, access to resources, land ownership, and decision-making as some of their works are not even accurately captured, almost invisible (PCW, n d )

Women farmers work more, yet are paid less and this can be traced back to the widening pay gap in agriculture where the wages of men are relatively higher on average than that of women

The agriculture sector has proved that an inclusive environment leads to a more empowered women workforce More than producing tangible outputs, empowered women likewise produce intangible returns: camaraderie and harmonious relationships among group members and the local agricultural sector.

Celebrating Women’s Month is celebrating womanhood – forging equality in the playfield, acknowledging the achievements of women, and amplifying awareness of women’s visibility and value.

On October 14, 2022, one hardworking female farmer from the municipality of Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental was recognized. Mrs. Dolores Ceralbo, the vice-chair of Pandanon Integrated Balangon Farmers’ Association (PIBFA), was awarded as the Outstanding Rural Woman in the region. (Source: DA-RAFIS 6 facebook post, October 15, 2022)

Recognizing her notable contribution, she received a Php 50,000 cash prize, a Php 50,000 worth of project grant, and a plaque of recognition. Mrs. Ceralbo, with her passion for sustainable agriculture, was able to establish her organic integrated farm with crops such as assorted vegetables, bananas, and sugarcane. Likewise she produces organic concoctions and extracts while providing meals not only for her family but also the whole of her community through her dedication to farming.

To note, PIBFA is a recipient of Rice Production and Mushroom Production Projects of the SAAD Program in Western Visayas.

Women Of Western Visayas

Also added to the limelight is the woman leader of the Lalong Integrated Upland Farmers’ Association (LIUFA) in Calatrava, Negros Occidental.

Hailed as one of the Outstanding Negrense Women in Negros Occidental and an awardee for the Women Engaged in Agriculture and Fishery category, Mrs. Luisa Manayon, excelled in agriculture and whose exceptional achievements have a positive impact on the community. She leads the 50-member group that is a recipient of the SAAD Program’s FY 2020 Rice Production Project worth Php 295,450 and supplementary projects worth Php 785,000.

The consolation prize was given during the Recognition for Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (REWARD), spearheaded by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and Gender Development (GAD) Negros Occidental on October 10, 2022 (report source from the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental).

“I am very thankful to the DA-SAAD for the prompt implementation of agricultural projects in Barangay Lalong. On behalf of the members of our association, we vow to take good care of these SAAD livelihood projects so our community could attain a sustainable economy,” Mrs. Manayon expressed.

Celebrating Women’s Month is celebrating womanhood – forging equality in the playfield, acknowledging the achievements of women, and amplifying awareness of women’s visibility and value

On October 14, 2022, one hardworking female farmer from the municipality of Don Salvador Benedicto, Negros Occidental was recognized Mrs Dolores Ceralbo, the vice-chair of Pandanon Integrated Balangon Farmers’ Association (PIBFA), was awarded as the Outstanding Rural Woman in the region. (Source: DA-RAFIS 6 facebook post, October 15, 2022)

Recognizing her notable contribution, she received a Php 50,000 cash prize, a Php 50,000 worth of project grant, and a plaque of recognition. Mrs. Ceralbo, with her passion for sustainable agriculture, was able to establish her organic integrated farm with crops such as assorted vegetables, bananas, and sugarcane Likewise she produces organic concoctions and extracts while providing meals not only for her family but also the whole of her community through her dedication to farming

To note, PIBFA is a recipient of Rice Production and Mushroom Production Projects of the SAAD Program in Western Visayas

Also added to the limelight is the woman leader of the Lalong Integrated Upland Farmers’ Association (LIUFA) in Calatrava, Negros Occidental.

Women Of Western Visayas

Hailed as one of the Outstanding Negrense Women in Negros Occidental and an awardee for the Women Engaged in Agriculture and Fishery category, Mrs Luisa Manayon, excelled in agriculture and whose exceptional achievements have a positive impact on the community. She leads the 50-member group that is a recipient of the SAAD Program’s FY 2020 Rice Production Project worth Php 295,450 and supplementary projects worth Php 785,000

The consolation prize was given during the Recognition for Women in Agriculture and Rural Development (REWARD), spearheaded by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist and Gender Development (GAD) Negros Occidental on October 10, 2022 (report source from the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental)

“I am very thankful to the DA-SAAD for the prompt implementation of agricultural projects in Barangay Lalong On behalf of the members of our association, we vow to take good care of these SAAD livelihood projects so our community could attain a sustainable economy,” Mrs Manayon expressed.

Another inspiring story is that of Ms Ivem Bartolome, 46, who leads the Negritos AtaBukidnon Development Project, Inc. in Barangay Lalong, Calatrava, Negros Occidental. Apart from spearheading her association in managing Corn and Coffee Production Projects, Bartolome inspires and supports her fellow women farmers serving as a chieftain of their tribe and Municipal Focal Person for Indigenous People (IP).