KAWAYAN, BILIRAN — Senior women farmers belonging to the Samahan ng mga Manggagawa para sa Agrikulturang Pangkabuhayan (SMAP) have generated Php 124,805.00 in gross sales through a communal vegetable project supported by the Department of Agriculture Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Region VIII.
Communal Farming Operations and SAAD Livelihood Support
The 20-member association, composed of 14 women and six men, established a diversified crop production model on a 1,250-square-meter communal farm plot in Kawayan:
Capacity Building: Following training on corn and vegetable production delivered by DA-SAAD Region VIII in 2023, the group transitioned from sole reliance on staple crops to diversified high-value crop farming.
Crop Diversity: The association actively cultivates multiple vegetable varieties including sweet corn, squash, string beans, eggplant, okra, and bottle gourd (upo) to maintain steady harvests.
Senior Leadership: Senior farmers including 74-year-old Rebecca Tabuldan, 66-year-old Estela Catigbi, and 64-year-old Daria Jaron lead daily field maintenance and serve as active peer trainers for local backyard growers.
Economic Impacts and Youth Engagement
The success of the communal farming initiative has driven local market integration and community adoption across the municipality:
Revenue Generation: The association recorded a cumulative gross income of Php 124,805.00 from local market sales, establishing a sustainable income stream for senior member households.
Institutional Support: The Local Government Unit of Kawayan expanded its assistance by providing supplementary agricultural inputs, market linkage support, and specialized training programs.
Youth Mobilization: SMAP President Gilbert Tabudlan noted that the group's success has renewed interest in agricultural livelihoods, encouraging younger residents in the barangay to establish their own backyard vegetable gardens.
