The Department of Agriculture (DA) will allocate P43.86 million for a project that will establish “multiplier farms,” where farmers may get animals like native pigs, native chicken, goats, sheep and honeybees for free.
Dubbed as the Multiplier Farms Project (MFP), Agriculture Undersecretary for Operations Jose Reaño said the project’s goal is to increase the income of farmers.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala signed Memorandum Order (MO) 40 upon the recommendation of Reaño. MO 40 authorized the rollout of the MFP.
Through MFP, the government will put up 30 multiplier farms, where animals will be bred in “strategic areas” in the Philippines. The animals will be distributed to “deserving and qualified” farmers.
“We will ask the local government units [LGUs] to select at least 10 families to take care of these animals. Lahat ng offspring mapupunta sa kanila for free,” Reaño told editors and reporters of media companies under the ALC Group in a forum dubbed as The Round Table held in Makati City recently.
MO 40 indicated that each multiplier farm will feature 10 heads of female and two male goats or sheep; 50 heads of pullets and 10 rooster; 10 colonies of honeybees; and 10 gilts and one boar.
The multiplier farms will include provisions for housing, facilities for feeding, water and lighting, biologics and insurance.
In two years of operations, goat or sheep multiplier farms are expected to produce 120 goats or sheep.
Native chicken multiplier farms would have generated 1,700 potential replacement pullets, while native pig multiplier farms would generate 120 piglets per year. These pullets and piglets are expected be a source of foundation stocks in putting up other multiplier farm modules.
Also, honey production is expected to reach 600 kilograms per year.
Reaño said the Agricultural Training Institute will train LGUs and beneficiaries on how to grow and breed farm animals, while the Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Service will help beneficiaries look for markets for their products.