I made reference in my recent column to the excessive use of antibiotics in animal husbandry, poultry farming and aquaculture in the Philippines and many countries around the world, including the US. The US Food and Drug Administration estimates that 80 percent of all antibiotics sold in the US are used on animals. I added that I saw a sign in the Department of Health that reads: 80 percent of Filipinos are antibiotic resistant!
While Tyson, one of KFC’s suppliers in the US, set a goal in April 2015 to eliminate the use of human antibiotics from its broiler flocks, or those raised for meat, by the end of September 2017, it is good to see that the Philippine poultry farm, Pamora, is offering free-range chicken and eggs, and states: “All natural chicken with no hormones, chemicals and antibiotics”. Pamora further states: “Pamora chicken are grown 81 days for optimum quality. Eight-percent total fat content with real chicken taste”.
Pamora Farm, a Filipino-European joint venture, located at Kilometer 396 Garreta, Pidigan, Abra, Philippines, operates a free-range chicken farm. Pamora Farm started to raise free-range chicken in the year 2000. The company’s production of dressed free-range chicken began in mid 2002 with a monthly capacity of 200 broilers. Today, monthly capacity has reached 3,000 broilers and still increasing due to markets demand for quality free-range chicken meat. Pamora Farm’s operation is fully integrated from raising/growing of free-range chicken, dressing to packaging, ready for distribution, ready to cook and ready to eat.
Given the fact that 80 percent of Filipinos are antibiotic resistant, this problem needs to be addressed, by supervising the raising of chicken and hogs. Pamora should be taken as an example and the chicken vendors, from groceries to fast-food chains, should follow the example of KFC in the US and cooperate with Pamora and other progressive and health-oriented chicken and hog raisers.
It would be good for all agri-food stakeholders if this topic could be discussed in more detail between the private sector (the complete supply chain) and government—the departments of Agriculture (DA) and Health (DOH), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It is understood that these drastic changes cannot be effected within a short period of time, as the Tyson/KFC US example shows. But every revolution starts with the first step.
At the same time, the DOH and the FDA have to provide information to patients who are buying antibiotics that they have to use antibiotics for a number of prescribed days. We have to get away from the habit to stop taking antibiotics as soon as the first sign of health improvement becomes visible. As we do not get complete packages with written information on application and side-effects of medicines at pharmacies, patients are short-changed and endangered. Again, this is something the DOH and FDA should look into.
From responsible farming to malnutrition
In September last year Dr. F.A. Bernardo presented the following disturbing facts on malnutrition in the country:
- About 17.5 million Filipinos are still undernourished (Food and Nutrition Research Institute);
- Among 5 to 10-year-old children, 29.1 percent are underweight and 29.9 percent are stunting;
- The most serious micronutrient deficiency is iron deficiency (causes anemia) in 39.4 percent of infants, 25.2 percent of pregnant women and 21.2 percent of 60 years old and above;
- Kids with zinc deficiency have retarded growth.
However, three out of 10 adults are overweight or obese, which reflects on dietary intake.
What is being done by the government to address the problem of poor nutrition?
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) supports feeding programs in schools and its 4Ps (Patawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) gives cash to several million poor families.
Is that enough? Certainly not. We trust that our vision of “urban farming”, involving families living under bridges and in the streets of Metro Manila, can start soon, providing families with malnutrition with opportunities to grow and harvest and eat vegetables. Actually, we are still waiting for the Department of Social Welfare and Development accreditation, which will hopefully be made available soon. It’s sad to see that the private sector is willing to make funds available to address malnutrition, but the bureaucracy is moving at snail pace.
For more information, contact Schumacher@mca.ph