Capitol University, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY--- To promote, introduce and sustain the production of poultry animals particularly free-range chickens and ducks for livelihood and food production in the region has been the motivation why the "Back to Basics: Scientific and Sustainable Livestock Poultry Production" advocacy seminar was mounted.

“This will be our first foray together in terms of coming up with an advocacy like this to intensify the production of free range chicken and Itik Pinas in the region. This is an opportunity for us to learn at the right time since we know the growing demands in the market for free range chicken and duck eggs today”. TCS-I / OIC-Center Director Maria Lydia A. Echavez said in her welcome remarks.

The Agricultural Training Institute-Regional Training Center X (ATI-RTC X) through the National Livestock Program and in partnership with the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office X (DA-RFO X) came up with the advocacy campaign to further strengthen the promotion of government programs on the production of healthy food. For its part, the Agricultural Training Institute pledged to continue to conduct activities towards enhancing the knowledge and skills of livestock and poultry raisers.

Raising free-range chicken and ducks are now becoming popular due to government programs that promote production of more meat and eggs that are safe and healthy. It is a production system wherein the birds are raised in a stress-free environment, allowing constant access outdoors to have a natural diet of grains, forages, and insects with plenty of fresh air and sunlight. Also, in this system the uses of antibiotics are minimized, if not eliminated. It includes hand-processing on the farm which ensures that the carcass remains clean and free of fecal matter, which is a contributing factor to food safety regarding commercial poultry products.

ATI Deputy Director Alfredo S. Aton in his message thanked the farmers for their presence and their continuous support towards attaining food security in the country. “Without you around, it is pointless to come up with a government program such as this. Most government programs would be useless without your expressed interest. I am a firm believer in partnership, coordination and collaboration. Department of Agriculture (DA) has attached bureaus and agencies, and one of them is ATI. We closely partner with DA in programs such as this to benefit our farmers and clientele since the mandate of the Secretary is to reach the grassroots level. Back to basics muna tayo. By securing the grassroots level, development will surely follow. Let us altogether improve the means of livelihood of our farmers.”

Meanwhile, Learning Site (LS) operator and former Misamis Occidental Governor Loreto Leo S. Ocampos, gave his testimony that there is a demand and burgeoning market for chicken having been a free range chicken grower himself. “I can guarantee you all that there is a market for free range chicken. I started small but later on established a poultry farm of free range chicken with 8,000 heads. My only motivation is that there is a market for chicken. I have a small lechon manok stall in Ozamiz (City). I sell organic native lechon manok which costs 280 pesos each against the 180 pesos of broiler .Despite the price difference people would line up in our stall. Infact, in four weeks’ time, we ran out of chicken supply because of the huge demand. I am grateful for DA and ATI for coming up with this activity where the scheme used is anchored on the big brother and small brother relationship. There is no problem in the market and the returns are promising. We only have to worry about bolstering production. With all the abundant resources around, we can make our own feeds. Once we produce our own feeds, our profit margin expands.” Mr. Ocampos said.

In his Keynote Speech, DA-Assistant Secretary for Livestock Dr. Enrico P. Garzon, Jr. reiterated the mandate and marching order of the Department to provide affordable and available food for all Filipino people. Asec. Garzon stated, ”DA have come up with programs to avert hunger in the country and for our people nga dili matulog nga gutom. Food must be available and affordable to the Filipino people. Programs such as National Livestock Program were created for us to go back to basics. It is an opportune time for this movement here in Mindanao to level up the poultry raisers by providing livestocks coupled with the necessary seminars along with starter kits.

While DA-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado was in attendance before the advocacy campaign started, his message was read on his behalf as he attended to an equally important activity conducted by DA-RFO X. Dr. Ruth S. Miclat, the Center Director of the ATI- International Training Center for Pig Husbandry (ITCPH) presented the activity overview. After the opening program, breakout sessions on Free Range Chicken Production and Duck Egg Production were conducted with Dr. Ma. Asuncion Beltran and Mr. Marvel Hernandez as Resource Persons respectively.

Around 600 farmers and other stakeholders from all over the region participated in the event. The selection and invitation of participants was handled by the ATI-NLP focal person and DA-RFO livestock coordinator through the veterinary offices of the four provinces, namely Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental and Lanao del Norte as well as Iligan and Cagayan de Oro City.

The 1-day advocacy campaign transpired at the University Gym, Capitol University, Cagayan de Oro City. (with reports from Aleli Jean A. Paulican, Project Officer and Livestock Focal Person).