The Department of Agriculture-Central Visayas (DA7) delivered some livelihood assistance to a farmers’ group in Daanbantayan, Cebu on Wednesday, December 7, 2023.
Through the Adaptation Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) Village Program, DA7 handed over 58 heads of heritage chickens and 16 sacks of chicken feeds to the Fatima Bandilaan Farmers Association (FABAFA) of Barangay Bagay.
Heritage chickens are native breeds that are adapted to the local climate and have high resistance to diseases. They are also known for their quality meat and eggs, which can fetch higher prices in the market.
The chicken distribution is part of the AMIA project package for FABAFA, which aims to enhance the resilience and productivity of the farmers amid the challenges of climate change.
FABAFA is one of the 20 farmers’ associations in Cebu that are beneficiaries of the AMIA Village Program, which provides various interventions such as farm inputs, equipment, training, and technical assistance.
Prior to the chicken distribution, FABAFA also received an incubator and fencing nets from DA7 as start-up support for their chicken meat and egg production enterprise.
This is the first enterprise that the association is going to manage, with the help and guidance of DA7 and the Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) of Daanbantayan.
Present during the turnover ceremony were personnel from DA7, MLGU of Daanbantayan, and officers and members of FABAFA.
They expressed their gratitude and appreciation to DA7 and AMIA for the assistance and support given to them.
They also vowed to take good care of the chickens and make the most of the opportunity to improve their livelihood and income.
Meanwhile, in Barangay Bitoon, Daanbantayan, the AMIA program also installed a Weather Outlook and Farm Advisory Bulletin Board, which displays the 10-day weather forecast in their area.
The bulletin board also provides farm advisories and tips on how to cope with the weather conditions and optimize their farm operations.
The bulletin board is part of the AMIA’s efforts to equip the farmers with timely and relevant information that will help them plan and prepare for the impacts of climate change on their crops and livestock.
The AMIA program is a flagship initiative of the Department of Agriculture that aims to mainstream climate change adaptation and mitigation in the agriculture sector.
It covers 10 regions and 60 provinces in the country, with a total of 1,200 AMIA villages.
The program is implemented in partnership with the local government units, farmers’ groups, civil society organizations, and academic institutions.