P5M UPGRADED NATIVE CHICKEN MULTIPLIER FARM TO RISE IN DINAGAT ISLANDS

Serving as an eligible source of quality poultry stocks in the island, the Department of Agriculture (DA) - Caraga through its Livestock Program has recently granted the Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands an upgraded native chicken multiplier breeder farm amounting to PhP5 million.

The intervention lodged under the Bayanihan Act II Stimulus Package for Agriculture intends to give support to the Dinagatnons whose livelihood were affected by the pandemic, which also include returning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and the farmers and fisherfolks in the island.

Regional Livestock Program Coordinator Jekem Sanchez together with Dinagat Islands Governor Arlene “Kaka” J. Bag-ao led the ribbon cutting held at Barangay Justiniana Edera, Municipality of Dinagat, where the site of the upgraded multiplier farm will be established.

The multiplier farm will be operated by the provincial local government and will hold the responsibility of raising chicken breeders and produce stocks that would be made available for the recipients. Fifty percent of the stocks produced will be provided for free to the identified beneficiary and institution in the first three years or until the investment cost is fully repaid in the value of products provided as livelihood.

Moreover, the provincial local government shall also provide the technical assistance to the chosen beneficiaries in order for the project to flourish and ensure its sustainability, and the farm will also be made available as a site of training and learning facility for students, farmers, women, and interested individuals.

The intervention is divided into four components that include the breeder component where 400 heads of breeder hens and 100 heads of breeder rooster will be procured to supply the identified direct buyer. The supplies components will allocate for the cost of feeds, supplements, veterinary drugs, and biologics for the starting operation needs of the farm. The farm facilities components include the housing establishment such as breeder house, brooder house, grower house, among others. Machinery and equipment components will procure incubators, hatchers, generator sets, and brooder equipment.

According to Livestock Coordinator Jekem Sanchez, all requests made by the identified beneficiaries in the province will go directly to the provincial government through its Provincial Veterinary Office. “This is in preparation of the Mandanas-Garcia Ruling where our LGUs in the province no longer have to request to the regional office, hence, they can ask directly to our province for faster processing of a request of interventions.” said. Sanchez. (Kent Warren H. Fugoso, DARAFIS-Caraga/PIA-Dinagat Islands)