IN AN effort to help preserve and further develop the native pig breeds in the country, a farm school for raising native pigs has been established in Silang, Cavite.
The native pig industry in the Philippines has a vast potential that need to be explored in order to generate business prospects, and provide opportunities for the small players.
Maximillan B. Cabriga, or āIanā as he is fondly called, established the Teofely Nature Farm in Silang, Cavite, which is now a government-accredited āFarm Schoolā for raising native pigs, and cultivation of organically grown vegetables, fruits, and herbs.
The demand for the native pigās meat has been constantly surging, however, local resources remained low ā thus the need to address the deficiency.
This is the reason why Cabriga established the farm school to train the would-be native pig raisers, including enthusiasts who maintain native pigs in their backyards.
To boost the production of native pigs, there is a need to know more about the industry through the farm school, which could also provide a bright prospect for the local entrepreneurs.
Cabriga says the farm school at the Teofely Nature Farm has been accredited by the Agricultural Training Institute of the Department of Agriculture (DA-ATI), and soon to gain accreditation from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Cabriga, who is also the organizer and president of the Philippine Native Pig Owners Network Association, Inc., says that contrary to the belief that raising native pig is not sustainable compared with raising hybrid pigs, native pigs can sell for a much higher price than the commercially raised hybrid swine.
Cabriga is encouraging those who are interested to raise native pigs to learn how to adopt ānatural farming protocolsā to be their standard in breeding, managing, feeding, housing, and caring of their native pigs.
Even Senator Cynthia A. Villar has been advocating for the formation of farm tourism camps or farm schools all over the country to serve as venues of learning for farmers.
Under Section 11 of Republic Act 10816 or the Farm Tourism Act, the DA and the Department of Tourism (DOT) are tasked to lead in the establishment of at least one farm tourism camp in every province in the country.
The farm school now offers seminars which are designed to respond to the increasing demand for native pig meat.
Among the topics to be discussed in the seminars include: transfer of concepts and ideas to the participants, such as how to develop their own ālechonā products; value-adding; food safety; and how to become agripreneurs.
While the course outline includes: history of lechon; salient provisions of RA 8485; general hygiene rules; choosing the right native pig for preparing lechon; basic equipment and ingredients for cooking lechon; and how to cook a perfect lechon, among others.
Aside from raising native pigs, Cabrigaās unique farm school also conducts training and seminars on organically grown fruits and vegetables, which include the basics of urban agriculture, seed preparation, plant propagation, sustainable cropping, garden management, and proper harvesting. (jaypeeyap@ymail.com/PN)
