Beneficiaries of Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) in Catanduanes are now reaping the fruits of their hard work and at the same time contributing to food security in the island province.

Periodic monitoring report on the status of crops distributed to the farmer beneficiaries of Catanduanes being conducted by the SAAD provincial program coordinating office in the island showed that eight (8) SAAD organized groups of beneficiaries from five (5) municipalities earned a total sales of P119,785.00 from the harvest of various upland vegetables during the whole month of June.

Dr. Mary Grace Rodriguez, SAAD Program Coordinator of Bicol, said that the five farmers’ associations  were provided with Vegetable Production Package consisted of vegetable seeds, organic fertilizer, drums, garden tools, plastic tray, HDPE pipes, wheelbarrow, plastic mulch, and knapsack sprayer in April 2020.

One beneficiary was the San Miguel SAAD Vegetable Farmers Association in Baras, Catanduanes with 80 members. For the whole month of June, some 78 kilos from the association’s total harvest of okra were sold at P30.00 per kilo; 62 kilos of harvested patola were sold at P10.00 per kilo; 57 kilos ampalaya sold at P40.00 per kilo; 108 kilos squash which were sold at P20.00 per kilo; 64.5 kilos beans sold at P30.00; 41.5 kilos eggplant sold at P50.00 per kilo;  42 kilos pechay which were sold at P60.00 per kilo; and 12 kilos cucumber sold at P40.00 per kilo. The San Miguel SAAD VFA earned a gross income of P12,050 during the whole month of June from the sale of said vegetables.

Another recipient of SAAD Vegetable Production Package also in April 2020 was the Suchan Vegetable Farmers Association in Bagamanoc, Catanduanes with 48 members. For the whole month of June, the association was able to sell 75 kilos of their harvested beans at P30.00 per kilo; 57 kilos ampalaya were sold at P60.00 per kilo; 37 kilos hot pepper were sold at P50.00 per kilo; 35 kilos okra sold at P40.00 per kilo; 89 kilos tomato sold at P50.00 per kilo; 22 kilos bell pepper sold at P160.00 per kilo; 38 kilos eggplant sold at P60.00 per kilo; 84 kilos squash sold at P20.00 per kilo; and 10 kilos Baguio beans were sold at P60.00 per kilo. The association earned a gross income of P21,450 from the sales of vegetables in the month of June.

In an interview conducted by Melrose T. Bernal, SAAD Catanduanes Provincial Coordinator, to Salvacion Royol, member of the Suchan VFA, the latter expressed her appreciation of the SAAD program. “Maraming salamat po sa DA SAAD, napakalaking tulong po sa amin ang mga binigay niyo pong kagamitan at pangtanim na gulay. Dakurong kaogmahan namo dahil nung panahon ng kasagsagan ng pandemic meron po kaming pinagkakaabalahan at pinagkakakitaan,” Royol said.

Meanwhile, in Gigmoto, another recipient of the SAAD Vegetable Production Package was the Sioron High Value Crop Farmers Association composed of 47 members. Also during the whole month of June, they were able to sell 195 kilos pechay from their harvest at P40.00 per kilo; 99 kilos ampalaya were sold at P80.00 per kilo; 117 kilos stringed beans sold at P90.00 per kilo; 292 kilos squash sold at P90.00 per kilo; 31 kilos patola sold at P20.00 per kilo; 57 kilos okra sold at P25.00 per kilo; 41 kilos tomato sold at P80.00 per kilo; 5 kilos upo sold at P70.00 per kilo; 2 kilos cucumber sold at P70.00 per kilo; and 5 kilos eggplant sold at P80.00 per kilo. The Sioron HVC Farmers Association earned a gross income of P42,685.00 during the whole month of June.

Also in Gigmoto, Catanduanes, the San Pedro Farmers Association (SPFA) with 99 members received the SAAD Vegetable Production Package under 2019 SAAD funds. For the whole month of  June, they were able to sell 41 kilos pechay at P40.00/kilo; 34 kilos ampalaya were sold at P70.00/kilo; 29 kilos stringed beans sold at P80.00/ kilo; 62 kilos squash sold at P30.00/kilo; 40 kilos patola sold at P20.00/kilo; 20 kilos okra sold at  P30.00/kilo; 6 kilos tomato sold at P40.00/kilo. The SPFA earned a gross income of P9,880 in June 2020.

Another beneficiary of Vegetable Production Package under 2019 SAAD funds was the  Gigmoto San Vicente SAAD Farmers Association (GSVSAADFA) composed of 40 members. Last June 2020, they were able to sell 9 kilos pechay at P30.00/kilo; 17 kilos patola were sold at  P15.00 to P20.00/kilo; 10 kilos squash sold at P40.00/kilo; 12 kilos ampalaya sold at P50.00/kilo; and 13 kilos stringed beans sold at P80.00/kilo.

In Bato, Catanduanes, the San Roque Vegetable Association (SRVA) with 56 members also received  the SAAD Vegetable Production Package under 2019  funds. For the month of June 2020, they were able to sell 75 kilos ampalaya at P50.00/kilo; 60 kilos okra sold at P20.00/kilo; 20 kilos eggplant sold at P50.00/kilo; 50 kilos stringed beans sold at P80.00/kilo; and 50 kilos pechay sold at P40.00 per kilo.

Also in Bato, Camarines Sur; the High Value Crops Growers Association in barangay Cagraray which has 55 members received the SAAD Vegetable Production Package under 2020 SAAD funds. The group was able to sell 8 kilos pechay at P30.00/kilo; 8 kilos ampalaya at P60.00/kilo; and 8 kilos okra at P20.00/kilo.

In Panganiban, Catanduanes, the San Miguel Farm Workers Association composed of 56 beneficiaries also received the SAAD Vegetable Production Package under 2020 SAAD funds. The group was able to sell 100 kilos okra at P40.00/kilo; 5 kilos chili pepper were sold at P60.00/kilo; 15 kilos spinach were sold at P40.00/kilo; 4 kilos patola sold at P50.00/kilo; 170 kilos cucumber sold at P50.00/kilo; 45 kilos upo sold at P50.00/kilo; 5 kilos eggplant sold at P60.00/kilo; and 16 kilos pechay sold at P50.00/kilo.

The members of the aforementioned associations also benefitted from their produce since not all their produce were sold, a portion of the harvest were distributed to the members for their family consumption.

The Vegetable Production Package of the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) aims to provide sustainable livelihood support to the SAAD beneficiaries in the remote areas of the island of Catanduanes and help increase their income through vegetable production. (Lovella P. Guarin) Photos courtesy of SAAD Catanduanes