COMMUNITY-BASED approach is a partnership strategy between the researcher and the community, requiring the involvement of the community members throughout the research process, valuing their contributions in the decision-making process. The aim is to increase knowledge and understanding on both ends and integrate the knowledge gained with interventions to improve their quality of life.
One good illustration of this approach is the project, titled “Comparative Performance and Community-based Production of Native Chickens,” implemented by the Cordillera Administrative Region Integrated Agricultural Research Center (Ciarc).
The project, funded by the Bureau of Agricultural Research, is part of the zonal project for the Luzon cluster, which was initiated in 2009. It was conceptualized to develop progressive communities of native chicken producers in Luzon. To do this, baseline data must be established to determine the native chicken production practices and production levels for each region. From this data, alternative technology interventions on production and reproduction performance were developed and introduced to cooperators. Finally, technologies and interventions adopted were enhanced and fine-tuned to improve production efficiency and sustainability.
Project leader Veronica F. Fangasan said raising native chicken serves both as food and livelihood for most communities. “The meat of native chicken has its distinctive taste and traditionally, it becomes the main source of protein, especially among rural folks,” Fangasan explained. As source of livelihood, she added that growing native chicken is relatively easy as it requires cheaper inputs, minimal management, less feeds and attention.
Raising native chickens is mostly implemented on a subsistence level since it provides both food and additional cash for the family.
Currently, there are four strains of native chicken present in Luzon. These are Banaba of Batangas, Bolinao of Pangasinan, Camarines of Bicol, and Paraoakan of Palawan.
One of the problems facing the industry is the rapid decrease of true-to-type native chicken breeders mainly due to indiscriminate crossbreeding to exotic breeds. Thus, there is a need to conserve these native breeds to preserve their unique identity.
The purpose of the project is to conserve native chicken strains through proper breeding-improved practices, and introducing other interventions that would lead to increase in production, thereby improving farmer’s income.
“As a strategy, the project employs a community-based approach to intensify native production in Luzon,” said Fangasan. Native chicken stock farms were established in the research stations following a package of technology, and the dispersal of native chicken breeders to cooperators.
“When the project came, there was a need to increase the population of native chicken first in the CIARC station. There is also a good facility to raise them, a former horse barn which was converted to a poultry house,” explained Fangasan.
Prior to the implementation of the project, a participatory rural appraisal was conducted in Bokod and Kabayan in Benguet. As a result, it was found that livestock production was identified as solution to the protein requirement in the Cordillera region.
To maximize its full benefit, farmers were taught how to intensify the production of native chicken and be able to incorporate them within their farming system. “We taught them application of proper management practices, breeding techniques, and feed supplementation to improve their productivity and increase their income,” said Fangasan.
The project started in 2009, but it was only during the later part of 2010 that it was fully implemented. From 17 initial breeders, it was increased to 39 breeders, 60 chicks and 35 growers by the end of 2013.
“From 2011-2013, the total chicken dispersed was 309,” reported Fangasan.
“One successful farmer-cooperators are those from Bokod, Benguet. One of the farmers was able to repay four times from the original inputs that were given to him through the project. More than that, his production continues to increase,” she added.
Bureau of Agricultural Research