A group of farmers in Barangay Tubigon in Ferrol, Romblon, has been chosen by the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) as beneficiaries for an egg production project in the province, as part of their agricultural interventions for the poor.
Earlier this month, the DA provided 290 ready-to-lay chickens to Tubigon Planters Association, comprising 25 members, most of whom are housewives. In December of the previous year, they received chicken cages, sacks of feeds, and bottled chicken vitamins worth PHP 800,080.
In an interview with PIA Romblon, association vice president Suzette Llorca shared that members demonstrated their bayanihan spirit by joining hands to build their poultry on a lot owned by one of its members.
Within one month, Llorca mentioned that they harvested 4,140 eggs, selling them for PHP 200 to PHP 230 per tray. Members and residents of Barangay directly purchase the eggs from the poultry.
According to Mrs. Llorca, buyers themselves come to them to get the eggs. Members are offering the eggs to inform barangay residents that they are now producing chicken eggs.
Llorca shared that the association faced the challenge of full cooperation among all members before the arrival of the chickens. However, they proved the promising future of the project when the chickens started laying eggs, gradually allowing them to make sales. To effectively care for the chickens and ensure the project's growth, the members were divided into seven groups, which took turns daily in tending to the poultry.
The association expressed immense gratitude to the SAAD Program for granting them the project.
“I am very thankful to the DA because this will be the beginning of the income source for the people of Tubigon. Our members will learn from this, that with just a little knowledge, people can have a livelihood. Before, people hesitated about these things, but now it's a breakthrough for us that we can have projects like this to start our livelihoods and provide financial needs for our children,” said Llorca.
The association plans to sell eggs throughout Ferrol and neighboring towns on Tablas Island should their production increase further and exceed the needs of their fellow residents.
In a press release, DA SAAD Mimaropa stated that additional interventions are lined up for the Tubigon Planters Association this year, as part of the 2024 SAAD fund.
