DALWANGAN, MALAYBALAY CITY, BUKIDNON – In a bid to address food security during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Agriculture in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) has turned over native swine piglets, Itik Pinas and mushroom fruiting bags to some farmer-associations and rural improvement clubs (RIC) in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental.

Three associations each received 12 heads of native swine piglets with a total amount of P19,602.00.

Beneficiaries include, Miarayon Farmers Association of Talakag, Bukidnon, Del Monte Foundation, Inc. of Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon and San Isidro Farmers Association of Medina, Misamis Oriental.

“Dako ni ug ikatabang sa panginabuhian labi na kanamo, mga kababainhan. Daghan pa ang matabangan kung manganak ni pohon,” said Zaida D. Bueanbisto, RIC president of Miarayon, Talakag, Bukidnon.

[This would be a great help especially to us, women. In time, when they bear offspring, more women can benefit of it.]

Meanwhile, the Tigkalaan RIC of Talakag, Bukidnon received 75 heads of Itik Pinas amounting to P7,500.00.

OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado of DA-10 said, “The intervention provides livelihood and food security for said beneficiaries.”

Native Swine piglets and Itik Pinas are the production of DA-10’s research station, the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Complex (NMACLRC) in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City

“Said intervention is one of the main sources of cash income in rural areas and provides financial safety umbrella, especially on the onset of COVID-19 pandemic,” RED Collado added.

He further said, “aside from that, native swine production promotes self-sufficiency and provides greater food security and increases income.”

Meanwhile, farmer-associations in Don Carlos and Dalwangan, Malaybalay City in Bukidnon and one RIC of Miarayon, Talakag, Bukidnon, each received 100 pieces oyster mushroom fruiting bags with a total cost of P10,500.00.

Mushroom fruiting bags which costs P35.00 each could lasts for three months of continuous food supply for every household.

Each bag has an estimated production of 200 grams within the said period, which provide guaranteed food.

DA-10’s mushroom production target of 20,000 fruiting bags is an immediate COVID-19 response from its three research stations, Research Center for Upland Development in Dangcagan, Bukidnon and Research Center for Hillyland Development in Claveria, Misamis Oriental and NMACLRC in Dalwangan, Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

Carmelito Lapoot, the officer-in-charge of DA’s Research Division shared, “providing immediate food assistance is one of our efforts in improving lives. We have to increase production effectively and efficiently.”#(ATCabig)