LEGAZPI CITY – A farmers' group assisted by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) in Albay town will soon start contributing to the supply of pork in the province after receiving a PHP5.5-million swine production grant from the national government through the Department of Agriculture (DA).
In an interview on Tuesday, Ronald Onguda, Agrarian Reform Program Officer I, said the project will give additional livelihood to the farmer-members of Quipia Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Cooperative (QARBC) who are engaged in vegetables and rice production.
"Before the piggery, the farmers' group was engaged in vegetable and rice production, and later crispy pili and native pork longanisa. With the operation of the piggery, it will provide additional income to the farmers and improve the local supply," he said.
Onguda said the project includes a climate-controlled building system designed to accommodate up to 300 heads under the Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) project funded by the DA.
In a statement, Rodrigo Realubit, DAR-Bicol assistant regional director for administration, assured full support for QARBC's endeavors and encouraged them to broaden their impact by recruiting more agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). (PNA)
