THE Department of Agriculture (DA)-Zamboanga Peninsula, through the Special Area for Agricultural Development (Saad) program, has turned over 223 rolls of Hog wires worth P420,335 to protect farms in two villages in Patikul, Sulu.

Jeffrey Salih, Saad provincial coordinator, said the farming interventions are intended for the establishment of perimeter fences to secure farms from wild animals in Pansul and Kabbun Takas villages.

The farmers in Pansul village received 111 rolls of hog wires while those from Kabbun Takas received 112 rolls and vegetable seeds.

The turnover of farm inputs was witnessed by Patikul Mayor Kabir Hayudini, representatives of Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (TF-Elcac), Department of Tourism and Provincial Tourism, and other personnel from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (Mafar).

Salih said the villages in Patikul town are tagged as balik barangay area, where members of the community were forced out of their homes due to terrorist acts.

"The residents in Pansul and Kabbun Takas consider themselves as a case of lost hope because of the continued clash against terrorism in their barangay. They suffered for years and were even barred from their own homes," Salih said.

"Now, DA-Saad is here to provide the needed support to start their livelihood. We also provided assorted vegetable seeds so they can establish their backyard gardens," Salih added.

He said that with the support of TF-Elcac, the residents have returned to their homes. (SunStar Zamboanga)