Livestock program gets a hefty lift

Traditionally, the livestock and poultry sub-sector has been a hef-ty contributor to the agriculture production of the country, which in turn, is a big factor in the country’s gross domestic product.

Last year, the livestock sector grossed P117.69 billion, 6.4 percent more than the P110.61 billion recorded in 2002. Livestock accounts for 17.71 percent of the country’s agricultural production. Poultry growers grossed P96.47 billion at last year’s prices, 8.6 percent more than the P88.82 billion realized in 2002.

To sustain that contribution, the Department of Agriculture launched a national livestock program. The project called Ginintuang Masaganang Ani Livestock Program (GMA-LP) is designed to improve production and cushion the impact of globalization.

A research project called Institutional Capability Building: Piloting a PBMES for Livestock and Poultry Sub-sector was commissioned to the STRIVE Foundation headed by its president Leonardo Gonzales with the support of Livestock Development Council (LDC).

The PBMES (program benefit monitoring and evaluation system) pilot tested in Isabela an operational program model under the research funding of the LDC.

Using workshops to transfer technology and institutionalize knowledge, three sub-programs of the National GMA-LP were monitored: production support, regulatory services and program management. These programs were focused on producers of large (cattle and carabao) and small (goat) ruminants, swine and poultry (broiler and layer).

Results of the pilot activity showed that participants to the GMA-LP program realized higher incomes those that did not join the program.

Net incremental farm income of backyard cattle intervention program is highest at P860 a year over the non-GMA-LP. Goats and carabaos performed very well in the Isabela study.

Given the findings of the research project the following initiatives are recommended:

• Greater cooperation with backyard livestock/poultry farmers who should be given priority, they being the likely victims of globalization;

• Changing the "top-down" scheme to the more participatory "bottom-up" approach by taking in the local government units (LGUs) as proactive partners. While being more economical for the DA, this approach will allow the LGUs to get higher revenue allotments;

• Institutionalization of a feedback mechanism and impact analysis at the regional and local levels. These are very crucial in the success of program implementa-tion. The GMA-LP should fund this program for replication among regional field units (RFUs);

• Replication of the Isabela model in other provinces while the Isabela project itself should be given more research funds to complete its activities; and

• Strategic alliances and advocacy for livestock and poultry sub sector should be pursued. — Ramon Ma. Epino