SAAD Program distributes Goats and Cattle in Siquijor
Farmers in Siquijor Province recently receive some 300 heads of goats and 100 heads of cattle under the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture.
The animals were distributed in batches in the municipalities of Siquijor, San Juan, Larena, Maria, Enrique Villanueva and Lazi.
SAAD is a special project intended for the poorest of the poor and for those who have not availed any DA projects, either from DA's regular or banner programs. The project aims to support farmers to uplift their income and improve their way of living. Additionally, Saad in local dialect means "promised".
Dr. Bernardita S. Tabada, Provincial Veterinarian of Siquijor, encouraged the farmer-beneficiaries to take full responsibility in taking care of the animals given by the government. "There are more farmers that are still waiting to receive such kind of projects. Today, you are blessed that you have received what was being promised, so I encouraged you to take good care of the animals", Tabada said.
Under the SAAD dispersal program, recipients need to return one offspring for the first and second kidding/calving or may opt to return two offspring at once. The returned does/calves will be dispersed to other qualified farmer-beneficiaries.
Farmer-beneficiary Antonio B. Etoc of Brgy. Gabayan in Lazi expressed his gratitude to DA for the SAAD projects that they received and promised to foster the animals with much care following the recommended management practices.