THE Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) of Negros Occidental is gearing up for the livestock and dairy fair during this year's Panaad sa Negros Festival next month.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena, who led PVO personnel in a meeting with the members of the Negros Association of Animal Feed and Drug Suppliers (NAAFDS) last week, said they are now finalizing the latter's commitment.
NAAFDS is the province’s partner in hosting the annual fair.
Decena said the activity will be highlighted by the inauguration of the Negros First Animal Hub, a permanent facility to be used throughout the year.
The hub will host activities like trainings and seminars on value-adding and marketing, and technology demonstration for livestock raisers and consumers.
The structure will be built on a 3,081-square meter space across the pavilion of the Municipality of Candoni.
It will also house an auction area, animal pens and corrals for display and sale, training center, laboratory for research and development, and demonstration room for value-adding activities, among others.
“The annual fair remains a venue which underscores the flourishing local animal industry,” he said, adding that “it is also the province's measure to boost farmers and raisers.”
For this year, PVO will also carry the 2017 Livestock and Dairy Fair theme “Producing Livestock, Providing Livelihood and Improving Lives."
The nine-day event at the Panaad Park at Barangay Mansilingan in Bacolod City will start on April 14.
Alpha Grace Tupas, project development officer I of PVO, said other activities include the annual “Lechonaad,” ceremonial turnover of livestock and poultry projects to recipient farmer-raisers, trade and exhibitions, and Pasidungog Award, among others.
From the previous parade of pork lechon, Tupas said this year's fair will also showcase "lechon manok" through the participation of poultry animal raisers.
"The livestock auction market will enable raisers to generate more income," she added.