KORONADAL CITY (MindaNews/23 Sept) — The Department of Agriculture (DA) in Region 12 has urged backyard swine raisers in the region to integrate meat processing in their operations so they can earn more.
Dr. John Pascual, regional coordinator of DA-12’s Agri-Pinoy Livestock Program, said backyard swine raisers may net significant savings and eventually earn more if they process their own produce into commercial products.
He cited the experiences of some local swine raisers who were able to maximize their earnings by venturing into processed meat such as ham, skinless longganisa, tocino, embutido, pork
nuggets, siomai and barbecue.
“Swine producers easily earn more in home meat processing because they would be the ones who would do all the processing works and eventually deliver the products to the markets,” he said.
Pascual said backyard swine raising is presently considered more advantageous compared to the commercial operation due to the rising cost of swine feeds.
He said local studies showed that the quality of swine meat produced in a backyard setting using home-mixed feeds are quite better than those produced by commercial swine farms that utilize
Commercial feeds.
These findings were based on a research made by Dr. Neil Doton, Veterinarian II of DA’s Central Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center in Amas, Kidapawan City.
Pascual said they are currently promoting the massive adoption of the integrated backyard swine raising and meat processing operation to ensure more quality meat products are available in the local markets.
Southwestern Mindanao (Region 12) covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, North Cotabato and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
He said the initiative is part of the value-added seminars on pig butchering and meat processing earlier launched by DA-12 in various parts of the region in support of the national government’s Food Staples Self-Sufficiency Program.
“This is also an effort of the department to teach domestic animal raisers to be self-reliant through the value-adding strategy,” he said.
Last month, the DA trained 27 backyard swine raisers from Malungon town on pig butchering, meat cutting and various pork meat processes.
“We’re currently conducting monthly trainings in different areas in the region to help encourage more backyard swine raisers to go into the integrated meat processing venture,” Pascual added. (Allen V. Estabillo/MindaNews)
