July 19, 2020

Philippine agriculture department gives cattle to Ilocos farmers

The Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) has given at least 60 heads of high-breed cattle to beneficiaries from five farmers' associations in Ilocos Region provinces under its loan breeder scheme, Manila Times reported.

Lucrecio Alviar Jr., DA-Region 1 executive director, said the cattle program has PHP3.9-million funding that is expected to improve the lives of farmer-beneficiaries who are into raising cattle.

"We are aiming to increase the number of recipients by 250% by the year 2025," Alviar said.

He said recipients in La Union are members of the Timpuyog ti Mannalon iti Nalvo Norte iti Luna La Union Inc., Duplas Bulalan Livestock Raisers Association in Sudipen, and the Rosario Municipal Indigenous Tribal Council Inc. The beneficiaries from Ilocos Norte province are the Bacarra Dayo Association and the Bacarra Zanjera Multipurpose Cooperative.

Alviar explained that under the DA's Modified Loan Breeder Program (MLBP), the American Brahman that are purebred heifer were loaned out to the beneficiaries who thereafter produce a breed that can adopt more to the country's tropical climate.

He said the cattle will eventually be bred through artificially insemination, of which the mother cattle will be loaned-out again to another identified beneficiary.

"While expenses like feeds, housing and other needs are on the part of the farmer, the farmers-beneficiaries will be trained in farmers a livestock school on integrated cattle management," Alviar added.