The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) conducts a stakeholder consultation for Broiler Chicken Value Chain Analysis (VCA) at Simple Living Hotel on September 19-21, 2023.

A total of 38 participants attended the activity consisting of producers, input suppliers, marketing arm, processors, Provincial Veterinary Office, and different government agencies, including DA-MIMAROPA’s Farm and Fisheries Clustering and Consolidation Program, Agribusiness and Marketing Assistance Division, Livestock Program, as well PRDP RPCO MIMAROPA I-REAP Component.

The participants engaged in different activities where they identified the key actors, activities, inputs, outputs, product flows, constraints, opportunities, and strengths faced by each value chain segment. 

They were also part of the cost and return analysis, formulation of vision statements, and action planning, which will all be included in the regional VCA.  

The key players engaged in different activities where they identified the key actors, activities, inputs, outputs, product flows, constraints, opportunities, and strengths faced by each value chain segment. They were also part of the cost and return analysis, formulation of vision statements, and action planning, which will all be included in the regional VCA.  

With the absence of an established network with each segment in the industry and limited access to resources, including government interventions, producers, including other market segments, lament that they suffer from low returns.

Despite the constraints, they are still hopeful. Now, with the VCA, they expect they will be given more attention and interventions to develop the industry and become the leading provider of high-quality and ethically sourced chicken products, at least in the national market. One attendee said they hoped the Jollibee branch in Odiongan could someday source their chicken from the local producers in the province. 

Eduardo Rafol, Jr., 20, one of the Department of Agriculture-MIMAROPA’S Provincial Young Farmers Challenge Program grantees, is the youngest attendee in the consultation meeting. He will start his broiler production on their family’s farm and hope for a better future as a young farmer. 

“Ini-expect ko lang po na sana marami pa pong project ma-implement dito sa probinsiya  ng Romblon. Sana sa inyong pagbabalik, yung mga nakalap nating idea at mga napag-usapan po natin dito, sana ay maisakatuparan (I’m hopeful that there will be more projects implemented here in the province of Romblon. I hope that when the team visits again, the ideas and discussions we’ve gathered can be turned into reality),” Rafol said when asked about his insights on the consultation meeting. 

Meanwhile, Michelle Famaran, Market Specialist II from the Office of the Provincial Veterinary, expects a more vital collaboration with each stakeholder as they are now aware of the needs of each key player. 

“Napansin na ngayon ang Romblon. Ineexpect lang po namin na may collaborative effort na ang lahat ng government agencies kasama ang mga growers natin (Romblon is gaining recognition now. We are hopeful that there will be a collaborative effort involving all government agencies, along with our local growers),” Famaran said. 

She also said they hope they will rise together and no one will be left behind. The FMRs, feed mills, and inputs are expensive, and they hope that through the initiative in Romblon, they can make them cheaper, and the quality of their products in the chicken industry will be recognized in the province of Romblon. 

In a recent survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics Authority in 2022, Romblon contributed 14 percent (70,090 heads) of the total broiler chicken production in the region, making them the second-highest producer from the five provinces.

Meanwhile, according to the Provincial Veterinary Office, they have recorded 162 chicken growers, 3 chicken farmers associations, 50 input suppliers, and 49 chicken traders/dealers around the province. 

VCA identifies players and activities involved in bringing a product from production to consumption and understands the constraints in each segment. VCA results are the basis for prioritizing LGU and private sector investments by commodity and its byproducts.” ### (Denice Joelle A. Benosa, InfoACE, PRDP RPCO-MIMAROPA)

Eduardo Rafol, Jr., 20, reports interventions and programs needed to advanced the processing of chicken meat in the province gathered through a key results analysis.

Michelle Famaran, Market Specialist II from the Provincial Veterinary Office, welcomes the attendee.

Participants in the Stakeholders Consultation for Romblon Broiler Chicken Value Chain Analysis (VCA) were asked to compose their vision for the industry, which will all be included in the Regional VCA, according to Janica Faith Manalo, one of the facilitators of the activity and I-Plan Component Planning Officer.

Each key player is consulted for the constraints, opportunities, and strengths each value chain segment faces.