“Baboy ko, Alkansya ko“ depicts the success story of Kamada Integrated Farmers Association from the municipality of Magpet, North Cotabato province. The group received interventions on the Swine Production Project.
BACKGROUND
Government program on swine production is gaining momentum as fast as the population grows. The daily intake of pork products increases since pork delicacies are considered as one of the favorite dishes among Christian families. Thus, the local government is endeavoring to upgrade swine breeds in the countryside through piglet dispersal.
Traditionally, the farmer relies most on crops production, but it cannot sustain its production due to some factor that affects the cultural management of these crops. In this scenario, farmers tend to seek another source of income while waiting for the farm to produce.
Usually, farmers raise livestock and poultry in their backyard and the most common is the hog raising. Currently, most of the farmers use local breeds where weight is marginal. Additionally, when swine is ready for disposal, farmers can’t cope with the market quality demand, thus farmers are likely to sell at the local market with such low prices.
The Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) gave a window of opportunity to help local livestock farmer growers to upgrade the swine industry in the locality. The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Magpet, in coordination with the SAAD personnel, decided to submit a proposal to help farmers have locally available hybrid swine stock.
Kamada Integrated Farmers Association (KIFA) is originally a group of women founded in April 2017 from Barangay Kamada. When the SAAD implemented its program in the Province of North Cotabato, the LGU saw this organization as a possible recipient.
Thus, these women’s groups decided to re-organize and name their group as Kamada Integrated Farmers Association since all members are recognized farmers in the locality. They also till their farmland and practice diversified farming. They were able to secure their legal identity through the Department of Labor and Employment registration in November 2017.
The association originally had 40 members and all were women, but due to some circumstances, the members decreased to 28 members.
Through the implementation of the SAAD Program, the association underwent a series of social preparation activities such as training, consultation meetings, and evaluation to prepare the association in handling the project.
The SAAD provided the association with four hybrid gilts and one hybrid boar with feeds component good for two to three months of operation to ensure that the project will start successfully. They also received assorted vegetable seeds and farm implements to have another source of income while waiting for the swine production project to produce.
INNOVATION/ GOOD PRACTICES
The hybrid boar and gilts were delivered in June 2018 together with the feed components. The association has a ready housing intended for the swine project. It was owned by one of the members of the association since it was agreed by the association and the owner to utilize the housing. The owner of the housing will be the caretaker, who will receive a piglet as its share during each gilt’s offspring.
To secure the sustainability of the project, the members decided and agreed that during the 1st cycle and part of the 2nd cycle of the project, income earned will be used as the capital since the project needs ready available feeds. In the 3rd cycle, the association will give subsidy to all members if they want to engage in hog raising. However, for those members who don’t want to engage in hog raising, the subsidized amount will be given to them in cash at the end of the year. This will allow all members to enjoy the benefits of the program.
The association also made an agenda to innovate the project, such as engaging in swine fattening project and meat processing. The association has already started this initiative through the conduct of training on meat processing. They tapped the Magpet LGU through the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist to realize the said training. The group also planned to supply the ingredients to the members as its additional source of income.
The swine fattening project will be implemented when the 3rd cycle produce will be ready for weaning. In the 4th cycle onward, the association will conduct piglet dispersal through a rollover scheme to the members and in the community as well.
STATUS
The Swine Production Project given by the DA-SAAD became successful. Currently, the project is on its 3rd cycle.
| Cycle | Piglet Produce | Caretaker share | Subsidized Piglet for members | Gross Income | Remarks |
| 1st | 29 piglets | 4 piglets | 0 | 62, 500.00 | – |
| 2nd | 43 piglets | 4 piglets | 8 piglets | 57,000.00 | 2 mortality |
| 3rd | 6 piglet | – | – | 1 on farrowing stage; 3 sow on gestation period |
The association also incurred expenses when the provided feeds ran out of stock. The association tapped a local feed producer and was able to pay during the income/produce of the 1st cycle.
FACILITATING FACTORS/CHALLENGES
Member cooperation and understanding, as well as resourcefulness, are the facilitating factors for the success of this project.
Being resourceful is one of the factors especially when the provided feeds ran out of stock. The association made an initiative to establish a credit contract with the local feed producer within the community. The feed producer supplied feeds and agreed that it will be paid after the sow produces. However, the association gave an installation payment to the feed producer collected in their monthly dues to maintain a good relationship.
The association also tapped the Office of the Municipal Agriculturist for vitamin supplementation and treatment if any disease arises.
IMPACT
The project is expected to provide the association income. It will also testify that any project is attainable as long as there are cooperation and understanding among others.
As soon as the association is completely financially stable, extending the project to other farmers group or individual through dispersal within the community will be implemented by the association. Tentatively, it will be implemented in the 4th cycle of the sow produce.
In general, the project aims to reduce the poverty situation in the community through the augmentation of farmers’ income.
POLICY/PROGRAMME/ COOPERATION/ IMPLICATION
Policies and guidelines in the project management had been set-up. The association also established partners, such as two possible local feed suppliers, in further implementation of the project.
One of the feed suppliers is engaged in meat marketing locally and even in Davao. Thus, the supplies may be a key factor for the start of the association’s fattening project.
The group also plans to engage with the Magpet Livestock and Poultry Farmers Association, the current recipient of Mini Feed Mill Plant funded by the DA Regional Field Office 12. Soon, the establishment will become operational. The KIFA plans to establish a connection with the said government-assisted association to provide swine feeds to them. It is very tangible since both associations are DA-assisted groups.
Written by Marycel Tucmo