Written and Photos taken by Radel Llagas
Four livestock growers’ cooperatives, namely, Quipot Livestock and Layer Agricultural Cooperative, Tipaz Layer Agriculture Cooperative, Pulang Bato Agriculture Cooperative, and Calubcob Livestock Agricultural Cooperative from San Juan, Batangas attended the Agribusiness Investment Forum for Poultry Growers spearheaded by the Department of Agriculture Region IV-CALABARZON (DA CALABARZON) Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division (AMAD) held on March 21-22, 2018 in Tagaytay City, Cavite.
According to Editha Salvosa, chief of AMAD, the forum aims to sustain and increase the market share of CALABARZON, particularly the province of Batangas, in the country’s poultry sector.
Vilma Dimaculangan, Regional Livestock Coordinator of DA CALABARZON, presented the poultry layer industry overview as well as the activities and thrusts of the Livestock Banner Program. Cecille Virtucio of Batangas Egg Producers Cooperative (BEPCO) shared the challenges faced by the egg industry and some aspirations and business opportunities for poultry growers.
The forum also served as a good venue for the attendees to gain knowledge on various financial assistance and credit facilities provided by Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), Landbank of the Philippines, and Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.
One of the attendees said that the forum will be very beneficial for them since most of them are in the early stage of developing their respective poultry farms.