NEGROS ORIENTAL, September 5, 2022 – Negros Oriental duck production beneficiaries from Jimalalud participated in a four-day training initiated by Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program to equip farmer-beneficiaries in producing sufficient supply of quality ducks and byproducts in the local market.

Thirty (30) selected raisers from the 104 members of the New Pacuan Farmers Association (NPFA) and 30 chosen representatives from 125 members of the Mahanlud Farmers Association (MAFA) were upskilled on the process, capitalization, and potential markets of duck byproducts at Jimalalud, Negros Oriental from June 13 to 16, 2022. After the training, their newly acquired knowledge will be re-echoed to their co-members.

The municipality has an observed low duck egg supply, because farmers’ livelihoods rely primarily on crops and livestock raising. The prevalence of golden snails, or kuhol, in rice farms also affected their production.

To assist in livelihood and contribute to community nutrition sufficiency, duck production was proposed by the beneficiaries for its feasibility, being disease-resistant than other poultry species. They are hardy, good foragers, and easy to herd in wetlands, where they flock. They have red, iron-rich meat, with similar protein levels to turkey and chicken, but different in flavor.  In addition, duck feathers have more commercial value than other poultry feathers.

With these considerations, the NPFA and MAFA received ducks and drakes under the FY 2021 Egg Production Enhancement through Duck Raising worth Php 2,202,200.00 on April 28 and May 6, 2022. The ducks were distributed per beneficiary, and will be raised individually in their backyards.

Table 1. Interventions under FY 2021 Egg Production Enhancement through Duck Raising

Meanwhile, the duck production and enterprise training was part of the FY 2022 Duck Egg Production and Marketing project. Specifically, the topics discussed include flock management and care, causes of illness, treatment, and marketing of different products made from their ducks and drakes.

SAAD, and the Provincial Agriculture Technology Coordinating Office (PATCO), gathered resource speakers from the Sarimanok and Univet Nutrition & Animal Healthcare Company (UNAHCO), to share proper practices on duck raising.

Emmanuel Saycon, Product Associate of Sarimanok, discussed Modern Day Duck Egg Production which highlighted the significance of acquiring correct information that will guide farmers in proper management of the interventions provided.

Additionally, UNAHCO Sales Promotion Representatives Eduardo Mendoza Jr. and Marvin Nesnia discussed feed management and feed resources to guide the farmers on proper fowl feeding and provide alternatives in case commercial feeds are unavailable.

Present during the training were: Efren Bolhano, Brgy. Pacuan Kagawad; Leonardo Hemodo, Jr., Mahanlud Brgy. Captain; Evenyl Q. Gordincillo, DA Jimalalud Municipal Agriculturist; and Kathy C. Diego, DA Jimalalud Agricultural Technologist. The local government unit also attended the event to provide assistance during the training and for monitoring.

To complete the delivery of assistance, FAs will also receive layer mash, paper egg tray, electrolytes and multivitamins, and oxytetracycline under the FY 2022 Duck Egg Production and Marketing project amounting to Php 556,000.00 this August.

Table 2. Inputs under FY 2022 Duck Egg Production and Marketing

“Usa kini sa akong gipangandoy sa atong asosayson kay kinahanglan usab nga kita ma-orient ta, ma-motivate ang atong kahibalo unsaon pag tagad sa bibi. Ug labaw sa tanan, nagpasalamat ko sa Ginoo ug sa DA-SAAD sa paghatag niining programaha,” Jancy Fabillar, New Pacuan Farmers Association (NPFA)  President, shared.

(I have envisioned our association joining this kind of training. I see the need for us for orientation and motivation on proper care and handling of ducks. Above all, I am grateful to God and to the DA-SAAD for providing us with this project.)

To attain their goal of sufficiency, the beneficiaries promised to keep improving their monitoring system by keeping frequent records of hatched eggs, deaths, feed intake, care, and maintenance of animals.

The group also established a separate housing area for ducks to lay eggs, feed their fowls two to three times per day, take quarantine measures for fowls showing signs of illness, and provide/administer vitamins (Doxycycline+Tiamulin+Vitamin A+Vitamin B12+Probiotics).

Finally, FAs will receive egg incubators by August 2022 as part of the FY 2021 Project under SAAD-Duck Egg Production for balut processing since they were also planning to venture on balut egg supply enterprise. ###

Writer: Jolina T. Daño, DA-SAAD Region 7 Information Officer

Sources:
Jehson T. Campos, DA-SAAD Negros Oriental Provincial Coordinator
Janaura B. Rivera, DA-SAAD Jimalalud and Vallehermoso Area Coordinator
Randy P. Carpio, DA-SAAD Basay, Bayawan City and Tanjay City Area Coordinator
Kathy Diego, DA-SAAD Jimalalud Agricultural Technologist