THE Department of Agriculture (DA) of Central Luzon awarded P15-million funding for the Nucleus and Multiplier Breeder Farms for Poultry, Swine and Small Ruminants project under Bayanihan 2 Act at Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU)-Abucay Campus over the weekend.
The turnover of funds was led by DA Undersecretary for Livestock Dr. William C. Medrano with Officer-in-Charge Regional Technical Director Dr. Arthur D. Dayrit and Regional Livestock Program Coordinator Elisa E. Mallari of DA Regional Field Office-Central Luzon.
The P15 million fund comprises of three BPSU projects; P5 million for the Free Range Chickens Multiplier Farm Project, P5 million for the project Increasing Availability of Swine Stock through Distribution and Upgrading of Swine Multiplier Farm, and P5 million fund for the Multiplier Piggery and Techno-Demo Farm.
Simultaneously with this award, the inauguration or opening of the Organic Agriculture Research and Development Innovation Center (OARDIC) at the Abucay Campus and the Center for Research on Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources in Brackish Systems (Craabs) was held at the Orani Campus.
In Madrano's message, he shared with participants the purpose of the program and the project carried out.
“We would like to invest in developing the youth to become an agripreneur. So the DA has many programs, not only scholarships but also entrepreneurship development involving the youth. Also, we really recognized your excellence as university, especially in agriculture research and development and this is the reason why DA provided and supported OARDIC and Craabs. These projects will help our farmers and fishermen so that we can have a rich harvest and high income,” he said.
The said activity also hosted a swine forum for livestock and hog raisers of Central Luzon. The participants were given the opportunity to present problems or questions of each province in the agricultural sector. Officials led by Madrano addressed their grievances.