(PNA file photo)
MANILA – Local poultry growers welcomed the Marcos administration’s vision to significantly raise meat production within the next five years, but also urged the government to immediately invest in agriculture infrastructure to support the targeted production expansion.
This came after the Department of Agriculture (DA) bared its plan to increase livestock production fivefold in five years.
In an interview on Thursday, Elias Jose Inciong, president of the United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA), said their membership will be eager to raise production as long as they stand to reap fair returns on their investments.
He explained that raising chicken production abruptly is easier compared to doing the same with large animals such as swine and cattle, because the turnaround period for harvesting broilers is relatively short.
“If there is money to be made, our members will gladly participate in the government’s efforts to aggressively raise meat production,” the business leader added.
Inciong said that to achieve its goals, the administration may want to construct cold storage facilities nationwide wherein meat can be stored over extended periods.
He noted that raising the production of livestock also entails producing more feeds, thus, he urged the DA to also build more silos for grains, and acquire more harvesting machines and dryers.
“When you target such a large increase in production, you must be prepared to produce more than what is needed for local consumption. Therefore, it may be time for us to consider aiming for the export market, he emphasized.
Inciong explained that even now, local poultries are already capable of meeting 100 percent of the domestic demand for dressed chicken.
Meanwhile, Roberto Galang, Jr., an agricultural economist and dean at Ateneo’s John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM), said livestock production is generally easy to ramp up, given new technologies to grow pork and chicken indoors.
However, he suggested that the government carefully designate places for aggressive livestock raising because they are likely to produce huge amounts of waste, which, in turn, can be disruptive to nearby communities.
He also echoed UBRA’s concern about producing sufficient feeds to support the animals during their life cycle. (PNA)
