Poverty reduction and sustainable development rely mostly on empowering people. One of the avenues to empower them is through interventions for sustainable livelihoods.

The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program provided livelihood support to each of the four farmer groups in the Province of Surigao del Sur with a total cost worth ₱2.5 Million.

Each association from Barangay San Roque, Bislig City, and Barangay Panaosawan in the Municipality of Bayabas received a one-unit goat house and one packet (11 heads) of goat.

Hilario Rosel, a member of the Riverside Panaosawan Farmers Association (RIPAFA), a seasonal laborer admits that he has no definite monthly income to support the basic needs of his family. He is called to work only during harvest season and his medical condition affects him to get other jobs.

“As one of the members of RIPAFA I am very grateful for the project because this will be a great help to add my income,” said Rosel.

The same intervention was also given to the P-7 Panaosawon Farmers’ Association.

According to Dr. Roche Rey Barrios the City Veterinarian of Bislig, goat rearing has distinct economic and managerial advantages over other livestock because of its less initial investment, low input requirement, higher prolificacy, early sexual maturity, and ease in marketing.

They play a big role in supporting the livelihood system of the men and women in the rural areas, he added.

On the other hand, two newly formed associations the Goat Raisers Association of Sitio Sanyata (GRASS) and Goat Raisers Association of Mabog (GRAM) from Barangay San Roque, Bislig City were now also practicing their potentials as livestock keepers.

Fifty-six-year-old, Marietta Añasco, a member of GRASS shared that the intervention is timely as they need to have another source to augment their income because they are affected by the low buying price of copra.

“Aside from the extra income that we can get from goat raising, our favorite bonding –tsismis (gossip) with our neighbors will now lessen because our time will be spent now on managing our new source of income,” said Añasco.

DA-SAAD Caraga Deputy Program Coordinator Roberto Hipolao, Jr. said that the Department will continually assist the beneficiaries and monitor the intervention to ensure the proper implementation and execution of the operation to achieve the project objectives.
SAAD is a special program initiated and funded by the DA. The program was launched to address poverty particularly in rural areas that are often inaccessible, lacks infrastructure, and where the poorest of the poor resides. (Rhea C. Abao, DA-Caraga RAFIS)