DA approves swine genetic improvement program

Agriculture Secretary Edgardo Angara recently issued Special Order No. 178 duly recognizing and accepting the proposal of Chairman Nemesio G. Co of the National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc. to implement a Swine Genetic Improvement Program.

The order also assigned an interagency team from the Department of Agriculture headed by Director Teodoro Abilay of the Bureau of Animal Industry to work out the details of the program and the mode of implementation. The team will work closely with the NFHF team also headed by Co.

The team has been given a deadline to complete their studies until the end of April, 2000 and the memorandum of agreement has been scheduled to be signed on May, during the 10th National Hog Farmers Convention in Antipolo City. Under the said instructions the two teams had already met last April 13 at the Club Filipino to discuss the general concepts of the project. Under the concepts the first project site would be established in Luzon, a second is planned for Mindanao and the third to be set up in Visayas. The project sites will initially serve the members of the Federation, then move on to provide to non-member Commercial farms, cooperatives and backyard farmers.

There is much expectations being placed on both teams as genetic improvement in swine is aimed at increasing the competitiveness of local hog farmers both commercial and backyard producers.