THE Provincial Agriculture Office of Misamis Oriental hosted the 9th International Rice Duck Conference which features the latest technology for breeding and raising ducks.
Provincial Agriculturist Apollo Pacamalan said visitors from Japan and the United States of America introduced new methods on raising ducks, which is the source of the in-demand “balut” and “penoy” not just in Cagayan de Oro and Misamis Orienal but all throughout the country.
The International Rice Duck Conference was participated by representatives from Misamis Occidental, Agusan del Sur, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental towns Balingasag, Opol, Tagoloan, Claveria, Lagonglong, among others.
The conference, which was held from December 10 to 12, was composed of lectures for rice duck farmers in the said towns and provinces.
There was also an exposure tour in the rice duck farm in Balingasag for the participants to personally see and learn how the rice duck farmers in the said town breed and raise their ducks.
Dr. Rene Santiago from the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture-Calabarzon said the conference was a huge help for the participating rice duck farmers.
“For the governor (Misamis Oriental Governor Yevgeny Emano), just continue your plan especially for duck farming. And, for the farmers, the government will give its best to support whatever they need in rice duck production,” Santiago said.
Governor Yevgeny Emano, for his part, said that while he is still the governor of Misamis Oriental, the programs for agriculture will continue, adding that without the farmers, the people will have nothing to eat.