ABOUT P3.5 million of the P9-M allocation for 2024 DA-BP2 programs will concentrate on agricultural diversification and employment generation for its eligible beneficiaries, the Department of Agriculture (DA) XI revealed.
Eloise Segui, DA Balik-Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program field operations division assistant, said that 80 individual BP2 beneficiaries endorsed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development will benefit from the gulayan and livestock package, including capacity-building training and orientations set next year.
Segui advised the BP2 individually supported beneficiaries to set up an association to receive more agricultural interventions for the department.
“Much better kung ma-association sila kay dili lang man gud kani nga program makahatag sa ila og intervention, pwede na sila maka request kung unsay ilang gusto kay kung individual maglisod og hatag ang DA,” Segui added.
The allotted P3.5 million for farm diversification and livelihood development will go to inputs for vegetable and corn production, gardening tools, fertilizers, and crop protection supplies. The money will also be used for breeding stocks for native chicken raising along with free-range chickens, poultry supplies and one-cycle assistance of feeds and biologics shall be provided to the beneficiaries.
Under capacity building training, Segui said the beneficiaries will also undergo value chain skills training to gain knowledge in production to commercialization of produce, along with social preparation and values formation.
However, the production inputs provided by DA-RFO would depend on the area and suitable package recommended for the beneficiaries’ farms to harmonize the diversification practice.
Of the total P9 million allocation, P1,196,000 will be used to establish new climate-resilient villages and collective enterprises in Davao del Norte, specifically in Sto. Tomas, New Corella, and Carmen. Each will receive an intervention package amounting to P48,952.26.
“ From BP2 individually beneficiaries, nagmugna sila og association mao ni sila nga na-target as three new villages. Ang mahatag sa ila ani is ang incubator with hatcher and other machineries,” Segui said.
DA-BP2 also allotted P330,000 to the DA-Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) for the institutionalization of Climate Information Services in local government units in the region which will be providing climate and weather-informed farming and fishing advisories to farmers and fisherfolks.
“Training ni sya sa mga agriculture-technician sa LGU para makabalo sila regarding sa climate og weather forecasting kung moulan o moinit ba,” Segui said.
“ Dapat naa jud ni [Climate Information Services] sa LGU para mahibal-an nila unsa jud ang appropriate nga tanom labi na kung naay mga farmer mangutana nganong ulan karon, so makatubag ang LGU,” she added.
Apart from the projects mentioned, P1,978,000 is allotted to support existing climate-resilient villages and associations/ cooperatives that serve as BP2 reintegration sites including enhancement training and deployment of support services. As of now, there are 20 sites in the region.
Segui said the projects are expected to be implemented by the first or second quarter of 2024.
