Farmers from the province of Laguna have received much-needed agricultural intervention from the Department of Agriculture (DA) Region IV-CALABARZON under the Livestock Program’s Livelihood Assistance Program.

The goal of this program is to provide livestock as an alternative source of income for smallholder farmers. It also aims to increase the production and inventory of livestock in the region, as well as to encourage farmers to engage in livestock production.

Mr. Vince Librada is one of the farmer-beneficiaries who received a carabao from the regional office on September 25, 2020 through the Agricultural Program Coordinating Office (APCO) of Laguna headed by Ms. Maria Annie S. Bucu.

Mr. Librada shared his sincere gratitude for this intervention of DA. He also extended his appreciation to DA CALABARZON, especially to Regional Director Engr. Arnel V. de Mesa, Assistant Regional Director (ARD) for Operations and Rice Program Coordinator Mr. Dennis R. Arpia, ARD for Research and Regulations, and Livestock Program Coordinator Ms. Vilma M. Dimaculangan, as well as APCO Bucu for their unwavering support to farmers like him who are trying to increase their source of income.

“This carabao that I received from the regional office will definitely help us to improve our livelihoods. Thank you so much for organizing this distribution and choosing me as one of your recipients,” Mr. Librada said.

Aside from being an addition to their herd, this livestock livelihood assistance can also be used as draft animals for farm cultivation and for the transport of agricultural produce.

In Laguna, a total of 15 heads of carabao and 15 cattle heads worth P1.05 million have already been allocated and distributed to farmers through the said program.

As farmers strive to make the region food-secure, DA CALABARZON is giving them full support in providing them with continuous livelihood assistance like livestock interventions.

Every farmer in the region, like Mr. Librada, will soon be able to achieve a higher income, a more profitable agricultural industry, with DA always on their side in achieving food sufficiency. ● (MAP, DA-RAFIS)