THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental dispersed 400 heads of chicken worth P30,000 to four recipient-farmers associations in La Castellana town yesterday.
These are on top of P1.49 million worth of bucks and dairy carabaos to be distributed today to various recipients in six districts of the province.
All in all, the total amount of animals for dispersal is almost P1.53 million.
For the chicken, the distribution was held at Farmers Agricultural Services and Trading Center in Barangay Robles.
La Castellana Mayor Rhumyla Nicor-Manglimutan, who was present during the turnover activity, urged the farmers to ensure sustainability of the project.
She also thanked the provincial government for bringing the livelihood project to the municipality.
For other animals, PVO is distributing 20 heads of buck worth P24, 999 each, or totaling to P499, 980.
The dispersal, which is under the Provincial Animal Genetic Improvement Program (Pagip) Buck Loan Program, has benefited mostly goat raisers in the province.
The remaining P999, 975 accounts for 25 heads of dairy carabao, at P39, 999 each.
The dispersal is under the province's Dairy Carabao Project.
The recipients are farmers and irrigators' associations, which are members of the League of Government Assisted Federations of Irrigators' Association of Negros Occidental.
PVO said the distribution of carabao is intended for the improvement of buffalo stocks in the province.
Improving the stocks will further boost the animal's capacity to produce a larger volume of milk like that of swamp-type buffalo, it said.
Through the project, recipient-farmers and associations are also benefited as they can also use the carabaos in their farming activities resulting in the reduction of production cost and increase in farm income.
"It can also be an additional source of livelihood to the recipients by utilization of buffalo milk for sale whether fresh or processed depending on the local market demand," it added.