July 4, 2024

 

Northern Mindanao, Philippines, tops livestock production region-wise in country

 

The Philippines' northern Mindanao is "among the country's top five regions in livestock production for major commodities," according to Regional Executive Director Jose Apollo Pacamalan of the Department of Agriculture (DA)-10.

 

During the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas on June 18, Pacamalan said northern Mindanao, known as Mindanao Island's food basket, leads the way in livestock farming and ushers in a new era of agricultural growth.

 

"We are first in cattle, third in carabao, hog, chicken, and goat production," he added. "In support of the genetic improvement initiatives, we successfully inseminated 5,669 animals using artificial insemination (AI) technology and distributed 10,000 semen straws to 287 group beneficiaries."

 

Pacamalan explained that farmers store livestock semen in semen straws for AI breeding, using cutting-edge techniques to improve livestock quality. He emphasised the value of genetic advancement in livestock, revealing that farmers could obtain superior cattle breeds using AI technology.

 

The DA's two breeding programmes — the Unified National Artificial Insemination Program (UNAIP) and the Philippine Native Animal Development (PNAD) — are the primary engines for livestock improvement efforts.

 

Through UNAIP, the DA provides advanced artificial insemination technology to improve the quality and productivity of livestock. The PNAD programme focuses on developing and promoting native animal breeds to ensure sustainable and resilient farming practices.

 

Pacamalan said northern Mindanao is home to three major production centers funded and maintained by the Regional Livestock Program. These centers, located at the Northern Mindanao Agricultural Crops and Livestock Research Center (NMACLRC) in Malaybalay City, the Research Center for Upland Development (RCUD) in Dangcagan, Bukidnon, and the Research Center for Hillyland Development (RCHD) in Claveria, Misamis Oriental, are vital to the region's agricultural advancements.

 

"Our breeder production centers maintain a biodiverse livestock population, including 53 cattle, 115 goats, and 27 native swine. We also raise 100 ducks, 11 carabao, 10 sheep, and 30 native chickens," Pacamalan said.

 

The DA, he said, is also expanding its reach by establishing three chicken ‘multiplier' farms in Cagayan de Oro City, Camiguin, and Jasaan, Misamis Oriental, along with three cattle multiplier farms in Bukidnon and Misamis Oriental, and one duck multiplier farm in Libertad, Misamis Oriental. These facilities boost local production and ensure a steady supply of high-quality livestock.

 

To increase small-holding farmers' income, the DA implemented the Livestock Economic Enterprise Development (LEED) programme. To ensure a holistic approach, it collaborated with corn farm cooperatives to support cattle, carabao, hogs, chickens, and goats by providing feed and other resources. The LEED programme offers housing, livestock, machinery, equipment, drugs, and biologics to combat avian flu and African swine fever.

 

Records showed that DA Northern Mindanao recently donated a ₱5.2 million (US$88,915) swine production facility to the Sinuda Multi-Indigenous Sectoral Farmers and Workers Association (SIMUSOFAWA) in Kitaotao, Bukidnon.

 

The agriculture department also launched the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) Program. It helped establish one unit of INSPIRE Swine Clustering and distributed 3,282 heads of swine to 1,081 individual beneficiaries in Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte, and Camiguin. These efforts aimed to upgrade provinces and municipalities from red to pink ASF zoning via the INSPIRE-Sentinel Protocol.

 

Pacamalan explained that the pink ASF zone indicates a transition out of high-risk status but still calls for constant monitoring and control measures to ensure the disease does not reemerge. In contrast, the red ASF zone points to areas with confirmed outbreaks or a high risk of infection.

 

The Feed and Feed-Based Development Program also helps maintain livestock health and productivity. The DA distributed 160 kilos of forage seeds and 5,000 pieces of forage planting materials to 15 farmer groups and 100 individuals. The Crop and Livestock Integration initiative in Misamis Occidental and Bukidnon also established two village-type feed mills with multi-crop drying pavement, complete with a feed mixer and feed pellet mill.

 

Through these comprehensive and multifaceted programs, the DA has not only improved the lives of livestock farmers but also strengthens the agricultural landscape of Northern Mindanao.

- Philippine Information Agency