DAR-MinSSAD poured P20M+ on goat projects in Mindanao

Davao - Upgraded and purebred goats where distributed in Mindanao by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) through its Mindanao Sustainable Settlement Area Development (MinSSAD) project as alternative livelihood for CARP beneficiaries. The project was funded by Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

According to Percival C. Dalugdug, the National Project Manager of MinSSAD, there are more than three thousand eight hundred does (3,800+) distributed to at least seven hundred (700) farmers and institutions in Mindanao. Areas covered include Agusan del Sur, Bukidnon, Comval, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Dinagat Island.

Five upgraded native does were given to farmer willing to participate on the said subproject. A cluster of five farmers were formed and each cluster was provided with one purebred Anglo Nubian or Boer buck. The animals were procured and distributed to 16 LGU participants and Central Mindanao University (CMU) based in Musuan, Bukidnon.

Prior to the distribution of goats, the farmers were trained at different training institutions like Mindanao Baptist Rural Life Center in Bansalan Davao del Sur and nearby State Universities and Colleges. After the training they prepared their goat shed and pasture areas as their equity.

The farmer beneficiaries also have agreed among themselves to contribute an amount and managed by their respective clusters or organizations. Under the supervision of DAR and LGUs, the amount is allotted to buy additional heads in case of animals’ death or for procurement of veterinary drugs. Beneficiaries are also required to pay “in-kind” for every goat received.

The scheme of implementation in MinSSAD project is different compared to other dispersal projects of the government. The original does received by the farmers will be transferred to the next line farmer beneficiary. The original farmer will retain the highly upgraded weaned offspring therefore will have better animals compared to the original does. The scheme also serves more farmer beneficiary in a shorter period of time.

On the other hand, DAR-MinSSAD funded the establishment of Goat Breeding Center with 100 highly upgraded does and 20 purebred bucks at CMU. The breeder stocks were procured from selected farms in Mindanao and Visayas like MBRLC and Abello’s Farm at Negros Occidental. - jxysl