News Details

Negros farmers harvest tilapia, crops under DSWD aid programs

NPO

•

January 10, 2025

PNA

BACOLOD CITY – Two farmers associations in northern Negros Occidental province have begun harvesting freshwater tilapia and various crops through the agricultural initiatives they implemented with the assistance of Projects LAWA and BINHI of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“The success of the projects marks a significant step in the agency’s efforts to foster economic development and environmental sustainability for the beneficiaries in Negros Occidental,” according to  the statement of the DSWD-Western Visayas (Region 6) on Thursday.

The two associations, among those affected by drought due to the El Niño last year, received assistance under the Project Local Adaptation to Water Access (LAWA) and Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished (BINHI).

In the municipality of Calatrava, the Marcelo Farmers Association (MAFA) in Barangay Marcelo recently harvested 360 kilograms (kg) of freshwater tilapia.

MAFA chairperson Richard Diotay said they converted a portion of their farmland into a fishpond and a reservoir that served as their water source during the dry spell.

“In the summer, there was limited water supply, and we benefited much from this project,” he said.

Diotay said the Department of Agriculture provided them with 5,000 tilapia fingerlings. After growing them, they harvested 50 kgs. of freshwater tilapia last Dec. 30 and 310 kgs. on Jan. 6.

“We have buyers for our harvest,” he added.

Diotay said they also planted kangkong (water spinach) on the sides of the fishpond for the members to use as feed for raising pigs.

“I’m grateful to the DSWD and the Municipal Agriculture Office. Not only do we earn from this; our members also enjoy growing and harvesting tilapia,” he said.

In the neighboring Toboso town, the Barangay San Jose Agrarian Reform Farmers Association (BSARFA) utilizes three hectares of land to cultivate corn, peanuts, vegetables and fruit-bearing trees.

They initially harvested and sold 716 kilograms  of vegetables at PHP30 per kg.; 50 kgs. of corn at PHP19 per kg; and 25 kgs. of peanuts at PHP 100 per kg.

BSARFA, which has 38 members, recorded a total sales of PHP32,500, with a net income of PHP22,271 after expenses of PHP10,229.

“We adopted a dagyaw (bayanihan) system to maintain the farm. All of us members work together. We record our income and how much we spend and earn. Once we have funds for capital, we will turn this into an enterprise,” BSARFA chairperson Jinky Espinosa said.

BSARFA is now preparing for the second harvest cycle of their vegetable garden.

“We are thankful that we have been selected to avail of this project,” Espinosa said.

Project LAWA and BINHI are being implemented under the DSWD’s Risk Resiliency Program through Cash-For-Training and Work.

Project LAWA focuses on enhancing water access and management in communities prone to drought and water shortages by constructing small farm reservoirs, repairing or rehabilitating water harvesting facilities, and diversifying water supplies, among others.

Project BINHI aims to promote food security and nutrition among communities by facilitating the adoption of climate-resilient and sustainable agricultural practices such as communal and urban gardening, vermicomposting, and planting of disaster-resilient crops, fruit-bearing trees, mangroves, among others.