THE “Kawayan ug Kanding FIESTA” was recently hosted by the Northern Mindanao Consortium for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (NOMCAARRD) at the Central Mindanao University in Maramag, Bukidnon.
The Farm-Industry Encounters through the Science and Technology Agenda (FIESTA), which is initiated and funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD), is a technology diffusion platform.
FIESTA is a PCAARRD event-based technology transfer modality that aims to promote science and technology (S&T) and its products towards providing competitive and profitable business ventures for the micro, small, and medium enterprises in the agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources sectors of the country.
The two-day activity specifically featured technologies on improving the country’s bamboo and goat production sectors, thus the tagline Kawayan ug Kanding (Bamboo and Goat) FIESTA was used for the event.
The results of R&D initiatives showcased in the event are within the areas of agriculture, aquatic, and natural resources, especially those that are funded by the DOST-PCAARRD.
Like a typical fiesta, there were also booth exhibits, free processed food tasting, and skills competitions, which included an essay writing contest.
Other topics that were tackled included village-level establishment of bamboo nursery, prospects of engineered bamboo, mitigating soil erosion through bamboo plantation, and organic farming.
Several products made out of bamboo were also featured, gaining the attention of the participants and visitors, such as lampshades, toys, and other useful items.
But one of the most interesting topics that were tackled during the event is about the prospects of the country’s goat industry.
Goat raising is becoming a “Sunrise Industry” in the country which is gaining the favor of the investors.
Even the DOST-PCAARRD underscored the importance of goat production.
While majority of supply, which stands at 99 percent, is sourced from backyard raisers, the number of commercial investors has been noted to be increasing since the turn of the millennium.
Based on available data, production now stands at 3.71 million heads as of January 2017, where 98.62 percent or 3.88 million are from the backyard raisers, and 1.38 percent or 0.05 million are from commercial raisers.
This small population base can be traced to two basic factors – high slaughter rate and low productivity.
Low productivity stems from lack of knowledge on improved management practices, and lack of access to quality breeders.
Despite the low production level, demand for goat meat and goat’s milk remains robust, as the number of goats slaughtered has always been higher than kids born alive.
At present, farmgate and carcass prices of goat are high, even higher than the price of beef.
However, the demand cannot be met, as this would mean slaughtering an average of 1,355 25-kg of goats per month or 16,262 heads per year.
This means that currently, there is much potential in goat production as supply cannot yet meet the demand.
To address these gaps, national goat science and technology initiatives were laid down in a holistic way. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
