INILAAN NG DA: P400-M AYUDA SA ASF-AFFECTED HOG FARMS

AAYUDAHAN ng Department of Agriculture (DA) ang maliliit na swine raisers na naapektuhan ng African Swine Fever (ASF) upang mapalakas ang produksiyon ng baboy.

Kabilang sa ipagkakaloob na tulong ang pagtatayo ng swine multiplier farms sa pamamagitan ng clustering o village-level approach na binubuo ng tig-20 hog farmers.

Ang DA sa pamamagitan ng livestock program nito ay magkakaloob sa bawat miyembro ng tig-limang piglets, 20 bags ng animal feed, at biologics. Ang bawat cluster na may 20 miyembro ay magkakaroon ng kabuuang 100 piglets na palalakihin.

Ayon kay Agriculture Secretary William Dar, ang clustering strategy ay unang ipatutupad sa ASF-affected areas bilang bahagi ng enhanced hog production sti­mulus package ng ahensiya.

Itinalaga ng DA chief si assistant secretary for livestock, Dr. William Medrano bilang project lead at implementer.

“We have earmarked P400 million to jumpstart the economic and income-generating activities in the livestock sector, particularly in some parts of Central Luzon and Calabarzon, where ASF was prevalent last year,” wika ni Secretary Dar.

“We must always calibrate our moves and not to lose sight of our commitment to see an empowered livestock and poultry sector, teeming with prosperous farmers. Thus, we in government will continuously provide smallholder farmers with opportunities to produce and earn more,” dagdag ng DA chief.

Ang clustering project ay kaugnay sa strategic interventions ng INSPIRE o ang Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion na ipatutupad ng DA National Livestock Program (NLP).

Layunin ng INSPIRE na pabilisin ang pagbangon ng hog sector at matiyak ang availability, accessibility, at affordability ng pork at pork products.