Agusan Sur farmers receive aid at governor’s 1st 100 days event
By Kelvin Kennt R. Generalo
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur (PIA) — The first one hundred days report of Governor Santiago Cane Jr. highlights the wholehearted courage and commitment of every farmer in the province toward achieving progress and sustainable development.
The governor’s report was formally received on November 10 at the Datu Lipus Covered Court, Patin-ay, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.
“From July 1 to October 9, we continued to initiate various programs and projects for progress. This chapter is not a new beginning but a time to deepen what we have already achieved—to nurture the seeds sown before so that they may bear fruit and be used by everyone,” said Gov. Cane.
The governor emphasized the importance of strengthening agriculture, livelihood, and rural enterprise, noting that five hectares of rubber-based diversified farm sites were established. A total of 2,500 rubber-budded seedlings, 1,500 cacao seedlings, and 800 banana plantlets were distributed to five Upland Sustainable Agri-Forestry Development (USAD) enrollees in Barangay Sagmone, Bayugan City; Barangay Angas/Awao, Sta. Josefa; Barangay Osmeña, La Paz; Barangay Cebolan, Esperanza; and Barangay New Visayas, Trento, who also received bags of fertilizer.
A total of 255 farmers were supported to strengthen production across all municipalities and the lone city through the distribution of 1,553 fruit tree seedlings, 2,730 banana plantlets, 2,000 Trichoderma packs, and 2,290 packs of vegetable seeds.
Under the Fish Development Project, 15 aquaculture sites were established, expected to produce an average of five hundred forty (540) kilograms of tilapia per cycle within a total area of 13,500 square meters. Beneficiaries, including farmers from the municipalities of Loreto, Talacogon, Rosario, Esperanza, San Francisco, San Luis, and La Paz, received 48,000 tilapia fingerlings and 364 sacks of feed.
“It is a big contribution to food security and livelihood for families, serving as an alternative source of income in the upland areas,” said Governor Cane.
Through the Livestock Development Program, the provincial government distributed 16 breeder cattle, 19 carabaos, and 22 goats to six farmers’ associations with 49 members from Bayugan City and the municipalities of Bunawan, Esperanza, Prosperidad, and Sibagat.
A total of 1,220 poultry chickens were also distributed to the municipalities of Trento, Bunawan, San Francisco, and Prosperidad—comprising 300 layer-type chickens for seven poultry farmers, 570 free-range chickens for 25 members of three associations, and 350 free-range chickens for seven cities and multiplier farms.
“To clarify, this is not a dole-out but an investment for additional livelihood—meant to strengthen and sustain progress and to be fulfilled with zeal by those who received these animals from the provincial government,” said Governor Cane.
The governor also reported that animal vaccines and drugs were consistently provided to all 14 local government units (LGUs) under the Endemic and Emerging Disease Control, Prevention, and Eradication Project. Additionally, 189 barangay officials and agricultural extension workers from eight municipal LGUs participated in a symposium on Avian Influenza (AI) and the implementation of the AI Prevention and Control Ordinance.
The provincial government likewise conducted capacity-building activities for 72 cooperative officers and 95 farmers’ associations under the USAD and the Sustainable Lowland Agriculture Development (SLAD) programs. These training focused on financial literacy, cooperative audit, and good governance, ensuring that the organizations become strong, transparent, and growth-ready.
Through the USAD Program, the provincial government continues to promote upland development and sustainable livelihood projects through the USAD Site Visitation – Government on Wheels (GOW) in Bayugan City and Loreto. The project monitors upland initiatives, recognizes outstanding farmers, and delivers essential services such as dental and social assistance to remote communities—a living testament to Sambayanihan and unity for progress.
Through this program, 8,495 rubber seedlings were distributed from the Agricultural Resource Center (ARC) in Mabuhay, Bayugan City, benefiting 15 farmer-enrollees in Prosperidad and San Francisco, covering 16.99 hectares of rubber farms. Additionally, 5,313 cacao seedlings were distributed to nine farmer-enrollees in Veruela and Sibagat, establishing nine and seven-tenths (9.7) hectares of new cacao plantation areas.
To further assist local producers, the province enhanced the Marketing Assistance Linkage System (MALS) and Marketing Information System (MIS), which provide weekly publication of agri-fishery price updates to ensure fair pricing for farmers.
“The project trained and mobilized twenty-eight (28) Technical Working Group (TWG) members. Through weekly SMS dissemination of price information, both consumers and farmer-producers are now better equipped with market data—capable of obtaining the right value for every product sold,” said Gov. Cane. (KKRG, PIA Agusan del Sur)
