Region 9 – A total of 80 rolls of barbwire were given to the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA – SAAD) farmer-beneficiaries in Omar on September 15, 2021.
According to SAAD Area Coordinator Farhan K. Abdullah, 40 farmer-beneficiaries benefitted from the said farm support. He said that the barbwires were part of the farm inputs given by SAAD to the farmers and has a total value of Php 173,520.00.
Mr. Christopher Rey U. Sensibalo, a representative from the local government unit said that project is a reassurance to the farmers in Omar that the SAAD support continuously materializes in their municipality.
“They received cassava stalks, fencing materials, and vegetables seeds for this project. Our local farmers here in Omar still use the old practices in farming and this has been a tradition in this part of Sulu,” said Sensibalo.
One beneficiary said, “and now we don’t have to worry about wild boars eating our plant.” Another expressed, “we never thought that we will receive support from the government because of the distance of our place, but SAAD made it possible and we are very grateful for that.”
Abdulla also expressed joy upon learning the farmers’ impressions. “The MLGU and BLGU show their support to the SAAD Intervention, from the materials the farmers now have, especially the barbwires to protect their farms and crops. They are so happy now that they can now maximize their plantation and not worry about guarding their crops from wild animals,” he said.
To date, the farmers in Omar are preparing for the installation of the fence and plans to plant the cassava stalks soon as it is timely for the rainy season in Sulu.
(Shara Malaica Ussam, DA-9)
(Source: Department of Agriculture – 9, photo courtesy of DA ZamPen)