THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for the integration of the corn feed business with the livestock and poultry sub-sectors as part of a total approach to ensure the sustained development of the hog industry.

In Negros Occidental, corn plantation and processing have already been established with the newest plant in Sagay City in a tie up with DA for capitalization.

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The provincial government is also eyeing to duplicate it in southern and central Negros. For the southern processing, it will be in Kabankalan City while in the central Negros, it will be put up in Don Salvador Benedicto. Governor Isidro Zayco said a counterpart fund from the province will likewise be extended.

The DA is encouraging more feed milling and hog and chicken growing ventures in corn-producing areas in the country. Cebu and parts of Panay island and Negros are known as corn-producing areas in the Visayas.

Also, the DA is pushing for more corn-planting activities around hog and chicken areas to integrate the co-dependent industries.

Along with the DA plan, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the Livestock Development Council (LDC) and the National Meat inspection Service (NMIS) vowed to reinforce the sector as they guarantee the future progress of the hog industry in the country.

The DA also proposed the creation of a livestock and poultry board to oversee the various livestock and poultry sectors along with interrelated groups such as corn growers and feed millers.

Said proposed board would decide such issues as import requirements of meat processors to ensure that shipments do not create supply “surges” that unduly depress farm gate prices, and the implementation of intervention programs in corn areas of livestock and poultry farms, among others. (George M. de la Cruz)