DA to fund, assist sheep and goat farms
The Department of Agriculture (DA) is supporting various projects that seek to stimulate the growth of small ruminants or grazing mammals, including sheep and goats.
The DA issued Memorandum Circular No. 39 outlining the guidelines for implementing the Goat and Sheep Expansion Project, one of its locally-funded projects this year to spur the development of the small ruminant sector.
This involves introducing good genetics, strengthening the livelihood of livestock farmers and providing support to new and established goat and sheep farms and enterprises.
Breeder-base development and nucleus farm development, or farms that maintain purebred breeder stocks and the source of parent stocks for multiplier farms, would also be part of the assistance plan.
Other parts of the project are feed and forage component, training and capacity building, animal health support and the establishment of small ruminant registry system.
Project recipients are required to give the offspring of goats and sheep to the DA-identified next in line beneficiaries in exchange for receiving the offspring of animals from multiplier farms. The repayment scheme is within two years.
Selection of applicants
A technical working group will be formed to, among others, review proposals, guide applicants, short-list applications and ensure their compliance with applicable rules and regulations.
“Given that project allocations and number of slots are limited, first applicants to comply with the requirements are to be prioritized, while those that lack compliance will be advised of the lacking documents/ qualifications,” the Sept. 18 order read.
“To ensure sustainability, the project recipients must follow the good animal husbandry practices, approved production plan and project documents (whenever applicable),” it added.
Beneficiaries will also engage with market channels, including Kadiwa, or enter into marketing agreements with applicable enterprises and processors.
They are also expected to expand the enterprise by increasing inventory to maximize profits.
The country produced 15,879.8 metric tons (MT) liveweight of goat in the second quarter of this year, down by 2.7 percent from 16,321.6 MT liveweight in the same period a year ago, based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Sheep production totaled 72.78 MT in the April to June period, up by 1.3 percent from 71.87 MT, the statistics agency said.
