Albay farmers receive livestock from DA Bicol

Farmers and rural women in Malilipot and Daraga Albay receive livestock animals from the Department of Agriculture Bicol as assistance to increase income and boost livestock production. (Photo from DA Bicol)

LEGAZPI CITY, July 27 (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture – Bicol  distributed livestock animals to farmers and rural women in Albay to increase their income and livestock production amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.

DA Bicol information officer Jayson Gonzales said the beneficiaries of this program from Malilipot and Daraga Albay undergo training before receiving livestock and poultry animals.

In Malilipot, the beneficiaries are farmer and rural women members of the Organic Agriculture Organization of Malilipot (OAOM) and the Rural Improvement Club (RIC). They received 11 native pigs and 180 native chickens respectively through the Albay Breeding Station (ABS) of the Albay Research and Development Center (ARDC).

ABS Chief Dr. Elsa Maranan said the distribution of these livestock animals is a regular activity of the office. It was resumed in June when the province was under the modified GCQ

“This animal dispersal activity of the office will deliver livelihood assistance to marginalized earners and help them cope with financial difficulty especially now that we have a pandemic,” she said.

She advised the beneficiaries to abide with the Memorandum of Agreement which emphasizes the giving back of the first offspring of the animals to

Beneficiairies of the DA LIvestock program undergo production training as a major requirement before receiving native pigs and chicken. (Photo drom DA Bicol)

be used in the next dispersals or next group of recipients.

“We are giving the kind of animals requested by the farmers so they have more opportunity to improve their livelihoods,” Maranan said.

OAOM members said that they will raise the native pig well in order to maximize its use and in the process, can help them in raising more animals in their farms or backyards.

On the other hand, members of RIC-Malilipot said that they will produce more native chickens to be a source of healthy meat and source of livelihood. They will be requesting trainings to DA-Bicol to equip them with technical skills in processing and other value-adding techniques.

In Daraga Albay, members of the Lacag Farmers Association (LAFAS) participated in the two-day Training on Native Pig and Native Chicken Production on July 16, 2020.

Gonzales cited the training as a major requirement to all beneficiaries of the distribution of livestock and poultry animals.

For 2020, ABS targets distribution of 30 swines while DA-Bicol, under its Livestock Program, targets 40 native swines and 600 native chickens for distribution. Beneficiaries are members of different farmer-groups in Albay. (SAA-PIA5/Albay)

 

Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)