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[Some of the Photos by Alcris Rosita of Livestock Program]

Aimed at coming up with a five-year (2019 – 2023) detailed and strategic plan which will serve as a guide in achieving the livestock and poultry subsectors’ goals and targets, industry stakeholders in CALABARZON gathered for a road map writeshop on July 17 – 19, 2019 in Los Baños, Laguna.

“Government and private sectors’ harmonization is vital towards agricultural enhancements and sustainability. We should always collaborate and work together with a positive mindset to come up with best ideas,” said Engr. Elmer T. Ferry, Assistant Regional Director for Research, Regulations, and Integrated Laboratory Division (ILD) of the Department of Agriculture Region IV-CALABARZON. He also emphasized the significance of value chain and applying agricultural and Biosystems engineering (addresses society’s challenges in food, energy, and water) in all of the Department’s programs and services.

Likewise, Ms. Vilma M. Dimaculangan, Regional Livestock Program Coordinator and ILD Chief, expressed that, “It is very important for us, industry players, to fully understand our current situation. By this, we will be able to strategize and plan actions particularly for possible calamities and incidents of disease outbreaks; and to have a sense of direction in attaining a sustainable, and locally and globally competitive livestock and poultry industry.”

The writeshop was attended by some 40 provincial, city, and municipal veterinarians, agriculturists, and planning and report officers; agricultural and fishery council members; private companies; agricultural program coordinating officers; and research, regulatory, planning, and operations divisions (livestock and corn programs) of DA.

Participants were divided into five groups. Each group was initially instructed to figure out the strengths and weaknesses, and distinguish the opportunities and threats (SWOT) of one of the three livestock commodities which they envision to build a road map with – Cavite (swine), Laguna (hog), Batangas (goat), Rizal (chicken egg), and Quezon (duck). They then created vision and mission statements, goals, and objectives for each of the commodities. Projection and strategies for five years across different segments of the value chain such as input provision/supply, production, postharvest, marketing, processing, enabling environment, and research and development were the final outputs of the groups.

Included also in road mapping are key result areas and action programs; proposed government support and policies; investment requirements; and proposed implementation and monitoring structures.

Road maps of other livestock commodities will be drafted and submitted by them to the Regional Livestock Program to come up with a collective, comprehensive version for the region.

As per record, CALABARZON is the 2nd highest producer of broiler chicken and swine in the country. And with a unified road map, the livestock industry’s development and protection is at hand. ● ARC, DA-RAFIS