The Department of Agriculture-CAR conducted an Investment Forum on Backyard Poultry Farming on May 18, 2017, at BAPTC Hall, La Trinidad, Benguet.
Around 50 farmer-participants from different organizations and individual from the province of Benguet attended the forum.
The Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD), with the assistance of the Livestock Sector, initiated this forum to raise the farmers’ awareness on the opportunities in poultry production. Based on current statistics, Baguio and Benguet are sourcing big volumes of poultry supply from the lowlands which show that the province is lacking poultry producers to meet its poultry needs.
Marilyn Cosalan of AMAD said that the forum will help the farmers realize the substantial financial returns in the poultry enterprise and encourage them to invest as well. She also emphasized the importance of raising our own food through backyard farming to ensure its safety aside from its market potential.
During the forum, Kevin Jim B. Luna, a veterinarian from the livestock sector of the DA-CAR presented and discussed the tips on backyard poultry farming, feeding management, health management, marketing of broilers and layers, cost of production for poultry farming and the government support for the poultry industry.
The farmer-participants of the forum are expected to create an organization in their own respective barangays and locate a land for backyard poultry farming. AMAD will, later on, inspect the land and assist them in creating their proposal to source out funds.
Evelyn Sinot, farmer participant from Pacso RIC of Kabayan, Benguet and poultry producer said that egg production is good because of stable net income compared to vegetable production.
“Let us work together for the success of this industry and supply the poultry needs of our province, with this we can prevent the invasion of the imported poultry products,’ Cosalan said.
This initiative supports the announcement of Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol during his visit in Kalinga on May 10 that the Department of Agriculture would encourage Filipinos to raise their own food to lessen the country’s dependence on imported food.
By Rebecca Dibdiben