By Pearl Gumapos
The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Sunday (Feb. 27) said that the livestock and poultry industry provides a great contribution to the country’s economy.
“Kapag pinagsama iyong livestock at saka iyong poultry industry, ito ay nagbibigay o nagko-contribute ng about 29.5% sa total value of agriculture dito sa ating bansa,” DA Undersecretary William Medrano said during the OneDA sa TV program.
“Ang poultry ay nagko-contribute ng 13.7%. Ang livestock naman ay nasa 15.8%. As of the last quarter of 2021, based on the PSA report, livestock and poultry are contributing significantly to the total value of production and agriculture,” Medrano said.
According to Medrano, the National Livestock Program has strategic plans to help elevate the country’s gains, RAISE (Responsiveness, Alliance, Integrity, Service, Empower) being one of them.
Responsiveness tackles the quick response to giving or providing service and technical assistance to livestock and poultry farmers.
Alliance pertains to how the DA cannot do things alone.
“We have to strengthen our linkages, partnerships, alliance with our local government units and siyempre sa industry, itong private sector,” Medrano said.
“Iyong letter I ay integrity. Kailangan mag serbisyo tayo with utmost honesty and integrity para mas maganda iyong ating imahe sa public.”
Service, meanwhile, talks of the fast service to farmers.
“Kailangan na we have to empower iyong ating magsasaka hindi lang sa production aspect, kundi kasama dito iyong processing, value-adding, hanggang sa pagma-market so that mas malaki iyong kikitain nila sa kanilang agricultural production,” he said.
The RAISE program has a couple of goals: to strengthen the implementation of DA’s several programs and to improve animal productivity and profitability. – bny
