(PNA file photo)
LIPA CITY, Batangas – The Department of Agriculture in Calabarzon (DA-4A), through its Halal Program, is looking at improving goat production to meet the rising demand of the Muslim community in this province.
Claiming that there is an opportunity in goat production, Marjorie Sepina, DA-4A Senior Science Research Specialist, on Thursday said the department opened a two-day seminar to help Batangas farmers to increase goat production.
The training, which began Wednesday, is being held at Organic Agriculture Research and Development Center (OARDC) Conference Hall, Sepina said.
The DA official disclosed that the 35 participants include representatives of the Talaga Water Service Cooperative, the Office of the City Veterinarian, Barangay animal health workers, farm owners, the City Cooperative and Livelihood Development Office and the Muslim community of Tanauan City.
The participants were taught about the current state of the goat industry as well as technical elements of goat production such as proper breed selection, propagation, housing, food and nutrition, pasture preparation and animal health management.
“Emphasis is placed on compliance with the Philippine National Standards in goat production and the implementation of Good Animal Husbandry Practices,” Sepina said.
Meanwhile, the official said that the department is helping some 42,492 farmers expand their networks to help them earn more.
This is being done through the DA’s Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation (F2C2) program.
The program aims to “unify the direction of the distribution of agency interventions to support the needs of (farmer) groups and support the beneficiaries in the development of a plan to ensure better development of the farmers' livelihood,” according to a DA-Calabarzon statement.
The DA will connect farmers and fishers in the cluster with partner institutions such as the Jollibee Group Foundation, International Fund for Agricultural Development, Agricultural Training Institute, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Agricultural Credit Policy Council, and Cooperative Development Authority, among other public and private sector organizations.
The beneficiaries are expected to receive training on subjects relevant to entrepreneurship such as leadership and organizational management, financial management and basic accounting, business plan preparation and entrepreneurial mind-setting. (PNA)
