ILOCOS SUR, October 20, 2023 – In rural communities, backyard goat raising is one of the profitable ventures that farmers can get involved in because of its milk and meat, requiring only a low production cost, hence the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program distributed 38 upgraded goats worth Php 605,340 to lowland crop cultivators in Sugpon, Ilocos Sur. 

The Pangotan Farmers Development Association with 38 members received 35 does and 3 bucks, including vitamins A, D, E, and Fenbendazole last June 2023 under FY 2023 Goat Production Project. Prior to the distribution, the small ruminants were dewormed and inspected to ensure they are free from Caprine Arthritis Encephalitis as well as Brucella.

To improve the knowledge and management skills of the recipient farmers before the turnover, the SAAD Program also conducted a Goat Production Training tackling feeding and nutrition, disease prevention, and record-keeping. 

The goats, which range from eight months to two years of age, will be raised individually by the beneficiaries. They will implement a roll-over scheme, handing over goat offspring from the original stocks to the next grantees until all the members can own a goat and operate their own goat project. 

Pangotan farmers pursued the goat production project because the goats multiply faster in a short period as they are capable of giving birth to as many as five kids, which is in line with the group’s goal to establish a multiplier farm and eventually sell the ruminants for breeding and meat consumption.

Municipal Agriculturist Victoria Sumagca encouraged the Pangotan farmers to take good care of their goat production project from SAAD because it could be a potential livestock enterprise that could provide them a stable source of income. 

“Sa 34 bayan ng Ilocos Sur, pinakaswerte tayo dito sa Sugpon dahil tayo ang nakatanggap nito. At ang pinakaswerteng barangay ay barangay Pangotan. Sapay kuma ta salimetmetan tayo daytoy nga project tapnu makatulong para kadagiti amin nga pagkasapulan tayo, ta ti maysa nga basis nu apay nga naited daytoy kanya tayo ket napanglaw tayo,” Mrs. Sumagca said.

(Among the 34 towns of Ilocos Sur, we are the most fortunate here in Sugpon because we received this [project]. And the most fortunate barangay is barangay Pangotan. I hope that we will take good care of this project so that it can help us with our needs, since one of the basis this was given to us is because we are in need.)

Meanwhile, Sugpon Municipal Mayor Mr. Daniel Laño, said the SAAD project is not merely for demonstration purposes. “Kayat ko lang nga i-stress, daytoy pilot area nga kuna tayo haan lang nga pag-testingan wenno demonstration, patien mi nga dati kayon nga nagtartaraken iti kalding ken patien mi nga tarimaanen yo dagitoy tapnu iti kasta umado ken adda dayjay self-sufficiency tayo iti makan,” said Mayor Laño. 

(I want to stress that this pilot area is not just for testing or demonstration. We believe that you have raised goats before and we believe that you will manage this project effectively so the goats will multiply and we can achieve self-sufficiency in food.)

With proper goat rearing techniques and good management, Pangotan farmers can increase their goat population, leading to supplementary income opportunities. This aligns with the program’s goal to improve food production and help farmers develop community-based enterprises, thus contributing to poverty reduction in the rural areas it operates. ###

Writer: Roley Ann P. Dela Cruz, DA-SAAD Ilocos Region Information Officer