Hundreds of livestock farmers attend First Livestock Raisers Day
165 livestock farmers coming from 27 barangays of the City of Koronadal attended the First Livestock Raisers Day spearheaded by the City Veterinary Office. City Veterinarian Dr. Charlemagne Calo encouraged the livestock raisers to organize themselves and avail the program of government agencies like the Department of Agriculture (DA) XII and Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) that could help in times of unfavorable circumstances.
“Mas maayo kung may mga karabaw, baka, nga pwede guyudon kag ibaligya nga posible pang-tuition fee sang mga kabataan naton”, Mayor Eliordo Ogena said, and emphasizing the importance of raising livestock as their livelihood to augment their other source of income and their buying power for the economic development.
On their part, PCIC Region XII representative Jocelyn A. Eway presented their program which highlighted the importance of livestock insurance which can help alleviate the financial stress and strain caused by disasters, especially for livestock farmers. Eway said, their agency will provide insurance to the following livestock such as cattle, carabao, horse, swine, goat, sheep, poultry and game fowls. The amount to be paid will depend on the number of livestock heads, its category, and age as well.
More so, Livestock Program Technical Staff Dr. Shiela Mae de Jesus of DA XII, gave a lecture on the factual orientation of raising livestock. She also emphasized the contribution of livestock to the growing economy. De Jesus said livestock production like chicken carabao, cattle, ducks, goats and swine which are the most common livestock raised contributed positively to the Philippine growing economy.
Calo, on the other hand, received feedback regarding the event conducted wherein almost half of the participants of livestock raisers day is now availing insurance from PCIC. City’s first livestock raisers day was conducted last November 27, this year.