P1.3M worth of free-range chicken distributed to farmers

BACOLOD. Some of the P1.34 million worth of free-range native chicken given to 24 farmers associations in Negros Occidental and Antique through the DA’s Special Area for Agricultural Development program. (Contributed Photo)
BACOLOD. Some of the P1.34 million worth of free-range native chicken given to 24 farmers associations in Negros Occidental and Antique through the DA’s Special Area for Agricultural Development program. (Contributed Photo)

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) in Western Visayas, through its Special Area for Agricultural Development (Saad) program, has completed the distribution of P1.34 million worth of free-range native chicken to 24 farmers associations (FAs) in Negros Occidental and Antique.

DA-Western Visayas, in a statement, said the native chicken production project is funded under the 2020 budget.

It seeks to augment the income of marginalized farmers in the uplands of Laua-an and San Remigio in Antique, and Calatrava and Moises Padilla in Negros Occidental who rely on farming for their livelihood.

Dominador Marquez, focal person for Saad Western Visayas, said the agency would not have been able to reach its target were it not for the support of partner-local government units (LGUs).

“Despite the limited movement in the region, we doubled our efforts to promptly deliver the interventions which could somehow ease the burden of the farmers who are also facing the threats of the pandemic,” he said.

In Antique, seven FAs in San Remigio will be able to expand their native chicken production after receiving another 785 breeder stocks worth P592,000. The beneficiaries also received P78,000 worth of biologics, and 83 bags of commercial feeds worth P116,200.

Four FAs in Laua-an received 300 heads of native chicken worth P210,000 plus P30,000 biologics, and P91,000 worth of feeds.

The municipalities of Calatrava and Moises Padilla, which have poverty incidence rates based on the Philippine Statistics Authority 2015 data, were added as project sites in the second year of implementation of the program in the region.

DA-Western Visayas reported that a total of 360 heads of native chicken worth P252,000 were granted to six farmers groups in Calatrava. The beneficiaries also obtained P36,000 biologics, and 78 bags of chicken feed worth P109,200.

Meanwhile, 420 heads of native chicken worth P294,000 with biologics amounting to P42,000 and P127,400 worth of feeds were turned over to six associations in Moises Padilla.

The agency said as counterpart to the project, the beneficiaries shall provide appropriate housing for the native chicken stocks. They were also urged to insure their project with the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation so they could avail themselves of indemnification once there are mortalities caused by natural calamities or disease outbreak.

Marquez added that “if the beneficiaries will provide the proper care and management, the free-range chickens will undoubtedly multiply in the coming months.”

For his part, Christopher Casilano, president of Barangay Ilaya Farmers Association in Calatrava, said the project is a big help to their members especially during this pandemic.

Meanwhile, the native chicken production in the Saad sites is positioned to also address the shortage of supply in the two provinces as the demand is seen to rise during the Christmas season. (Erwin P. Nicavera with reports from DA-WV)

Trending

No stories found.

Just in

No stories found.

Branded Content

No stories found.
SunStar Publishing Inc.
www.sunstar.com.ph