ZAMBOANGA DEL SUR, February 4, 2026 — The Ebarle Farmers’ Association (FA) of Josefina, Zamboanga del Sur earned Php 385,455 from corn production under the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 2, following a consolidated farming approach that allowed members to plant, harvest and sell as a group.

The income was generated during the May to September 2025 cropping season, when the association implemented a consolidated production approach that allowed members to manage planting, harvesting and marketing as a group rather than as individual farmers.

Under the project, Ebarle FA planted 24 bags of yellow corn seeds on a 12.5-hectare consolidated production area. The harvest reached 25,919 kilograms of yellow corn kernels, which were sold at Php 16 per kilogram in the local markets of Josefina and Tambulig.

Members said the shared production system helped them coordinate farm activities more efficiently, reduce overlapping costs and avoid rushed selling immediately after harvest, a common challenge for small-scale corn growers.

From the season’s earnings, the association set aside Php 136,000 in savings and maintained Php 3,000 as cash on hand — funds that will be used to support future planting activities and operational requirements.

Ebarle FA has been a DA-SAAD beneficiary since 2023, receiving livelihood support for corn production and upgraded native chicken raising. The interventions aim to improve farm income while strengthening household food security among member-beneficiaries.

“Sa among una nga cropping, nagkat-on pa mi unsaon pagtinabangay isip usa ka grupo. Karon, mas organisado na mi ug mas klaro na ang among koordinasyon sa pagdumala sa uma,” said Berson Cabilan, president of the Ebarle FA. “Tungod niini, mas niayo among ani ug kita karong season.”

(For our earlier cropping, we were still learning how to work together as one group. Now, we are more organized and clearer in managing the farm. Because of this, our harvest and income improved this season.)

Aside from corn production, the association continues to implement its upgraded native chicken project, which provides an additional source of food and income for members and helps diversify livelihoods.

Moving forward, Ebarle FA plans to sustain consolidated corn production and reinvest part of its earnings in succeeding cropping cycles, while strengthening internal coordination and financial management to ensure stable income in the coming seasons. ###

Writer: Ellaine L. Quiamco, DA-SAAD ZamPen Information Officer

Source: Mr. Mark Joseph Lorete, FPL Associate Project Officer I