The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it will provide a P5.5-million grant to farmers’ cooperative and associations (FCAs) that would venture into cluster swine farming in Cagayan Valley.
DA Regional Field Office (RFO) 2 Executive Director Narciso A. Edillo said eligible FCAs could get P5.5 million to jumpstart their pig production plans. The FCAs must be registered with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) or Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
“We are accepting FCAs that have the inclination and preference for swine repopulation provided they have the land component and have met the requirements as registered in DOLE, CDA or SEC and the grant of P5.5 million will be downloaded to them for building that cluster farm,” he said.
“If you are really interested and you have an area, write to us. Send us your letter of intent.”
Narciso said FCAs, such as agrarian reform beneficiaries, farmers associations, and indigenous peoples’ organizations, in African swine fever (ASF)-certified free areas and with tight biosecurity measures are eligible.
“For Cagayan Valley, we have 103 clusters: 40 in Cagayan, 38 in Isabela; 15 in Nueva Vizcaya; 8 in Quirino and 2 for Batanes. It is very important that they too, should have an adequate space a kilometer away from residence areas.”
Narciso added that the DA-RFO 2 has also allocated P556.5 million for 103 clusters under its swine repopulation program and another P171 million for its sentinelling program, especially for backyard hog raisers.
“[The] DA RFO 2 will also continue the sentineling program as the agency aggressively pushes the clustering as part of Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion,” he said.
Narciso disclosed that the DA-RFO 2 had a recent virtual business meeting with Thailand-based Charoen Pokphand Foods for the supply of 1,600 ASF-free piglets for the region’s repopulation efforts.
The DA has partnered with the private sector for the construction of a state-of-the-art sow breeder nucleus farm that will help accelerate the country’s pig repopulation efforts.
Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar led the groundbreaking of a 5,000-sow level breeder nucleus farm of JG Agroventures Inc. and Pig Improvement Company (PIC) in Barangay Sta. Rita, Quezon, Nueva Ecija. ()
SOURCE: https://businessmirror.com.ph
