May 15, 2024

 

Cutting feed costs key to driving Philippines' livestock production, according to official

 

 

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) hopes to improve the productivity of the country's livestock sector by lowering production costs and applying technology, with a reduction in the price of feeds being one of the major focuses.

 

Agriculture Undersecretary Deogracias Victor Savellano said that increasing the domestic production of livestock and poultry would need a reduction in the cost of feeds.

 

"Right now, mostly we are still importing corn; we have to produce more corn. We have to invest; we have to subsidise farmers to increase the production of soybeans. And even malunggay can be part of the feeds, [even] seaweeds. There [is] ongoing [research] for this, to reduce the production cost of feeds," he said.

 

Currently, corn is still the dominant feed source for livestock and poultry, but domestic crop production cannot cope with local demand.

 

Savellano also sees the need for the integrated development of the Philippines' livestock and feed industries, which are currently treated as separate industries by the government and private sector.

 

He said a law is pending in the Philippine Congress to integrate the development of bith industries, with the DA taking the lead.

 

"There's a proposal now in Congress and Senate, the Livestock and Feed Industry Act. Because right now, here at the department, the group handling livestock and feeds are separate," Savellano said. "The group handling the components for feeds is separate. We have to really combine both."

 

"So, when we have to think of the development of the livestock industry, we have to think of the development of [the] feeds industry," he added.

 

The DA official said that lowering the cost of feeds will need technology adoption and that more efficient production of livestock and poultry can pave the way for the country to export meat products.

 

"[It has to be] technology-driven. We have so many resources; we maximise, lessen importation, increase local production and export," Savellano noted.

 

The official sees countries with consumers demanding halal products as potential export markets for local livestock products.

 

"We will be boosting production of goats and sheep to increase its processing, especially for halal-eating countries," he added.

 

Rungphech Chitanuwat, country general manager of Informa Markets in the Philippines, said that meat consumption in the Philippines is increasing, which will require increasing the local production of livestock and poultry that can be attained with better government-private sector collaboration.

 

"We see the consumption pattern; the consumers prefer to have meat as their choice of everyday meal. This creates an opportunity for the industry," Chitanuwat said.

 

She also sees the need to lower the cost of feeds and ensure biosecurity so the industry can achieve better production.

 

"Imagine if we can get government to support, give them (livestock and poultry producers) education, protecting, help them survive in different scenarios," Chitanuwat said. "For example, what government has done during African swine fever, during bird flu [crisis], this is also helping them to sustain their farming business."

 

Such measures, combined with more government-private sector collaboration, can also help the Philippines export livestock products.

 

"Thailand, they are exporter, [for] pork exports and poultry. The way they are collaborating, they are working closely with government," Chitanuwat said. "Private sector has to get up and think about collaborating [with government]."

- The Manila Times