THE Provincial Government of Negros Occidental through the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) has funded 10 various livestock and poultry industry development projects this year amounting to almost P16.5 million.
PVO records showed that under the 2016 fund, it has allocated the biggest amount of P3.5 million for the implementation of the Provincial Animal Genetic Improvement Program, which is aimed at improving the genetic makeup of the existing local animals.
This will mainly include continuation of projects like the establishment of bull houses, with artificial insemination center component.
Records further showed that other funds were allotted for cattle breeding project, P3 million; expansion of Negros First multiplier farms, P2 million; and pasture development project, P2 million.
The cattle breeding project comprises upgrading of local breeds through artificial inseminations and natural breeding using hybrid animal stocks.
The multiplier farms expansion includes construction of livestock and poultry animal production centers.
The other six funded projects are the establishment of dairy carabao production center, waste management program, establishment of Fluorescent Antibody Test (FAT) facility, marketing support and post-harvest facilities, enhancement of artificial insemination centers, and production of Negros breed free-range chicken.
The Provincial Government through PVO funded P1 million for each of these projects, it added.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said the post-harvest facilities are intended for local livestock and poultry animal raisers associations while the enhancement of artificial insemination centers is a support-project to local government units.
Decena said the production of Negros breed free-range chicken is a new project of PVO that aims to produce the province’s own breed of chicken by cross breeding various existing breeds.
“These projects are positioned to further boost the local livestock and poultry industry in which Negros Occidental is currently one of the leading provinces in terms of production,” Decena said.
At present, the PVO is processing the purchase requests thus, the implementation of these projects is targeted for the last quarter of the year toward early part of 2017, he added. (EPN)