Farmers receive carabaos from SAAD

A total of 60 heads female carabaos were distributed to the farmer-beneficiaries of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) of the Department of Agriculture (DA7) on July 2, 2020.

DA7 Regional Executive Director Atty. Salvador D. Diputado bared that these farmers from Bein Unido, Bohol also received 120 containers of molasses, 180 bags of pollard and 60 bags of rice bran as starter feeds prior to the distribution of the carabaos.
The carabao-based production project got an allocation of P2.11M under FY 2019 SAAD budget, of which P1.8M was for the procurement of heifer carabaos thru fund transfer to the LGU while the rest of the amount was for the starter feeds.
"The farmer-beneficiaries were very happy to receive the draft animals and inputs. They were grateful to the DA-SAAD program for the assistance which arrived in this time where it is needed the most," Diputado added.
Local officials led by Bien Unido Mayor Rene B. Borinaga, Vice Mayor Ramon Arcenal, Sangguniang Bayan members and Barangay officials were present to receive the goodies. Bohol 2nd District Representative Erico Aristotle “Aris” Aumentado was also present in the turnover ceremony.
"Mayor Borinaga together with the rest of the local officials expressed her deepest thanks to Secretary William D. Dar and commits to fully support DA’s Rice Resiliency Program," Diputado shared on his facebook account.
The SAAD program is another project of DA which seeks to reduce production cost by no longer hiring draft animals for farm operations.
DA7 SAAD coordinator Ms. Aurea M. Madrio explained that through this assistance, additional income is expected to be generated by renting out these draft animals to other fields. Besides, these carabaos will also be a good source of fresh milk.
Meanwhile, after the turn-over of 60 female carabaos, Bien Unido Mayor Rene B. Borenaga and Vice Mayor Ramon Arcenal received the various fruit-tree seedlings from DA-7 featuring the super sweet jackfruit seedlings.
They conducted the ceremonial tree-planting rites, with Cong. Erico Aristotle Aumentado joining the event. This is also part of Secretary William Dar’s Plant, Plant, Plant Program.
Another turnover and ceremonial planting of various fruit-tree seedlings were held in Talibon, Bohol.