By Erwin Nicavera/PNA
BACOLOD CITY — The Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO) will showcase the flourishing livestock and poultry industry of Negros Occidental during the 26th Panaad sa Negros Festival slated on April 8 to 14.
The week-long Livestock and Dairy Fair 2019 will be held at the Panaad Park and Stadium in Barangay Mansilingan in this city. But prior to that, the PVO on Wednesday initiated a forum to underscore the investment opportunities among livestock and poultry commodities in the province.
Provincial Veterinarian Renante Decena said that during the fair, they will present the accomplishments and contributions of the different assisted-partner associations in the development and progress of the industry.
Decena said the local government units will participate in the exhibits, showcasing dairy cattle, black pig, ornamental chickens, goats, and other poultry animals.
Animal science students and senior high schoolers from various schools and universities offering veterinary and agriculture courses will participate in the “Oplan Kasapatan para sa Kabataan”.
“Letting the students take part in this once a year provincial activity would open their hearts and minds to the importance of livestock and poultry industry,” the PVO chief said.
He pointed out that the collaboration between the government and academe is indispensable towards the development of agriculture students and to the progress and sustainability of the animal industry in the province.
During the Panaad Festival, the PVO will offer anew technical insights in the field of livestock and poultry, as well as veterinary services expected to attract festival goers and animal enthusiasts from the province and its neighboring regions.
Seminars relevant to farm management, animal health, nutrition and diseases, game fowl and poultry management will also be held, as well as a display of pet animals from private groups and farm animals from the Capitol-run Negros First Ranch and the Provincial Livestock Breeding Center and Dairy Farm.
Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed that Negros Occidental ranked first among the provinces in the country in terms of swine inventory-backyard level, producing 463,014 heads in 2016 and 459,960 heads in 2017.
Nationwide, it is also the No. 1 producer of native chicken, yielding 5,240,936 heads in 2017.
