Farmers in Surigao Norte’s town train on organic carabao propagation
By Susil D. Ragas
SURIGAO CITY, Surigao del Norte (PIA) — In an effort to boost livestock production and meet the demand for carabeef, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), through its National Organic Agriculture Program (NOAP), in coordination with the Department of Agriculture (DA) Caraga and the local government of Tagana-an, Surigao del Norte, trained 50 farmers of the town on organic carabao propagation.
The two-day training, held from April 21 to 22 in the municipality of Tagana-an, is part of NOAP’s project on Organic Carabao Production, strengthening the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to bolster and fully support all areas of the agricultural sector and make food security feasible.
Dr. Tomas Austral Jr., from Caraga State University (CSU), Butuan City, served as the resource speaker for the training. He emphasized the importance of organic methods in livestock raising, proper animal care and management, and value-added techniques.
The activity also included a hands-on demonstration, and the farmer-participants learned the following:
- Proper way to take care of beef carabao
- Organic feeding and the use of natural resources
- Carabao health and disease prevention
- Weight estimation
- Sustainable herd and breeding management
- Farm planning and record-keeping
- Organic agriculture standards and certification
Meanwhile, BAI Engineer Gisell Iglesias shared the current challenge in the livestock industry, where local carabao production is low compared to the demand. “Capacitating farmers to strengthen organic carabao farming will help increase production and stabilize the demand.”
She also announced that the activity includes the distribution of organic carabaos.
“The farmers joining this training serve as beneficiaries of the organic carabao under the said project. Each beneficiary received one 24-month-old carabao with a price of P80, 000.”
For the Bureau of Animal Industry, the National Organic Agriculture Program aims to strengthen the livestock sector through organic and sustainable approaches and initiatives for better and reliable income to farmers and their families, safe and healthy food for the Filipino people, and for improved communities – all supporting the government’s thrust on lively, eco-friendly, and inclusive agriculture. (SDR, PIA Surigao del Norte with reports from BAI-NOAP and DA Caraga)
