SWINE PRODUCTION. Island Garden City of Samal Mayor Al David Uy (5th from left) receives the PHP10 million check from the Department of Agriculture 11 (Davao region) - National Livestock Program and the Agricultural Training Institute 11 on Tuesday (Oct. 25, 2022) as support for their swine production. The multi-million projects are composed of housing facilities, breeder animals, equipment, and initial inputs for the establishment of a 30 sow-level swine multiplier and techno demo farm project. (Photo courtesy of ATI-11)
DAVAO CITY – Davao del Norte’s Island Garden City of Samal (IGACOS) is a recipient of PHP10 million worth of projects aimed at boosting its swine production, agricultural officials said Wednesday.
In a statement, Olivia Gatus, officer in charge of the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) 11 (Davao region), said the projects consist of housing facilities, breeder animals, and equipment.
Spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) 11 - National Livestock Program and the ATI-11, the program also helps IGACOS raisers to produce their hogs.
The initiative includes initial inputs for the establishment of a 30 sow-level swine multiplier and techno demo farm project under the NLP’s Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program.
INSPIRE aims to help the Philippine swine industry recover by increasing hog production and ensuring the availability, accessibility, and affordability of pork and pork products.
Through this program, Gatus said, there is no need for IGACOS to import pork and its by-products from this city since it can now be self-sufficient.
She said the techno demo farm project aims to produce and distribute 646 heads and DNA-tested female (weaner) breeders; process and distribute 501 free doses of boar semen production; and distribute 429 heads male (castrates).
Gatus also said the techno demo farm can serve as a venue for training, extension, and learning of farmers, students, and interested individuals, among others.
"Through this project, we will support the gradual restocking and repopulation of the swine industry, which in the long run will not only benefit the agriculture sector in Samal but the whole Davao region as well," she said.
Meanwhile, NLP Director Dr. Ruth Miclat Sonaco said the island city’s hog production fell by 40 percent or 9,000 heads from a record 13,000 heads due to African swine fever.
"Currently, the project will rehabilitate the swine industry on the island. We cannot go back to how we raised our pigs before; we need to restructure and re-modernize," she said.
Sonaco said with the breeder stocks and weaners raised, the industry can now produce additional breeders and weaners required in the coming months for a more extensive repopulation.
"These breeder multiplier farms will be sustained by the implementing partner in the years to come and be reliable sources of quality stocks," she said. Mayor Al David Uy acknowledged the government for the sustainable projects to help the Samaleños.
"We wanted to develop not only the tourism sector but also the agri sector to strengthen food sufficiency in our island," he said. (PNA)
