BOHOL, November 4, 2024 – The Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Central Visayas, in partnership with the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV), visited the Calvario Farmers Association in Lila, Bohol, on October 2, 2024, to provide deworming treatments and nutrients for their carabaos.

In March 2024, the Calvario Farmers Association received nine carabaos for their production project. Now aged 2 and a half years, these water buffaloes had yet to receive deworming and vitamin injections due to scheduling conflicts with the local livestock technician. The area coordinator (AC) raised this issue at a stakeholders’ meeting on September 17, 2024, facilitating further coordination with the OPV.

During their visit, the OPV administered 10 ml of Albendazole and 3 ml of Vitamin ADE, completing the de-parasitizing process to improve the animals’ health and productivity. These activities align with the SAAD-Central Visayas Vegetable and Carabao Production with Marketing and Enterprise project, which aims to support the association’s agricultural efforts.

Joel O. Lomocso, president of the association, expressed gratitude for the timely intervention. “Maayong adlaw sa tanan. Salamat sa taga OPV kay nainject-an na among kabaw. Kung wala pa ang taga OPV, siguro hangtod karon dili mabakunahan ang mga kabaw. Sukad sila nainject-an, kusog na mokaon ug moinom ang mga kabaw,” he said.

(Good day, everyone. Thanks to the OPV, our buffaloes have now been injected for deworming and vitamins. If the OPV had not come, they might still be waiting. Since they were treated, the buffaloes have been eating and drinking vigorously.)

The association has expressed interest in receiving training to enable members to administer injections and deworming treatments themselves. Continued collaboration with the local government unit (LGU) and OPV will enhance members’ skills in cattle management, equipping them to handle medications, vitamins, and dewormers more effectively. ###

Writer: Imaculate Grace L. Negre, SAAD Central Visayas Information Officer
Source: Mercedes Calamba, SAAD Bohol Area Coordinator