By William Agda
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has expanded its support to over 125 farmers in Misamis Oriental through its Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program, providing resources and training to boost agricultural productivity and enterprise.
Mark Anthony Lagamon, SAAD’s regional lead for operations, planning, and evaluation, highlighted that the program’s interventions include projects focused on vegetable, egg, livestock, and corn production. The initiative aims to empower farmers to transition from subsistence farming to a business-oriented approach.
“We believe that agriculture is fundamental to drive economic growth and self-sufficiency in local communities,” Lagamon said in a statement on Wednesday.
In addition to production projects, SAAD has supplied equipment and tools to 80 farmer organizations and conducted training sessions to help farmers adopt sustainable and profit-driven farming practices.
“With this training, we intend for our farmers to move away from the old mindset of producing only for daily sustenance,” Lagamon added.
The SAAD program focuses on assisting marginalized farmers in improving productivity, turning farming into a profitable enterprise, and contributing to long-term agricultural sustainability in the region, according to the DA.