A farmers’ cooperative in Agusan del Norte is broadening its economic footprint by venturing into swine production, supported by a ₱2 million government grant aimed at fostering rural enterprise development.
The Balang-balang Banana Farmers Agriculture Cooperative (BABAFAC), based in Remedios T. Romualdez (RTR), secured the capital grant under the Department of Agriculture (DA) – Caraga’s Livestock Economic Enterprise Development (LEED) Program.
DA-Caraga Executive Director Ricardo Oñate Jr. officially turned over the funds to the local government unit on Thursday to facilitate the cooperative’s newest venture.
Since 2024, the 30-member organization has received continuous assistance through the DA’s Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program, which initially bolstered its banana production, processing equipment, and egg farming operations.
”The first intervention we received from DA-SAAD in 2024 was for our banana production. The program provided our members with fertilizers, farm implements, and equipment for banana chips processing,” BABAFAC Chair Guillermo Gumatay said Friday.
”The government’s support through DA-SAAD has been a big help to our 30 members. Our banana chips and egg businesses continue to reach markets not only in our town but also in other parts of the province,” Gumatay added.
“We see hog production as a profitable business given the strong demand for pork in markets,” he added.
”We are grateful to the government, especially the DA, for the continuing guidance and support that made this opportunity possible,” Gumatay said.
In a statement released Friday, DA-Caraga highlighted the expansion as a key milestone in scaling smallholder agricultural groups into diversified, self-sustaining community enterprises.
”The additional enterprise marks another significant step in BABAFAC’s growth, transforming it from a farmer group engaged in crop production into a diversified community-based enterprise with multiple ventures,” DA-Caraga said.