Now on their second cycle of production, farmers in Beleng-belis, Kapangan, Benguet are gradually making headway with their PhP1 million-worth hog fattening and marketing micro enterprise subproject under the Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) and the Provincial Local Government of Benguet.

Through the DA-PRDP RPCO CAR, the Beleng-Belis Farmers Association (BBFA) received 100 piglets, along with 26 sacks of starter foods and 168 sacks of grower feed which were all delivered on a staggered basis.

According to BBFA member Diana Belino, they proposed hog fattening as their enterprise subproject to have an additional source of income.

“We chose to propose hog fattening as our enterprise project because we observed that it is a profitable venture for us to have additional source of livelihood,” Belino said.

Among the 84 members of the BBFA, 20 members benefited under the first tranche. The members received 4-15 piglets each depending on their capabilities to provide for the additional counterpart.

According to Belino, the current price of piglets increased due to the decrease in the supply of pig in the province. With this, the original list of beneficiaries changed, since some of them cannot provide the additional counterpart that the association requires.

“Piglets cost less than P3,000.00 when we prepared our business plan in 2017. With the increased price, we required an additional cash counterpart from our members aside from the pig pens,” she added.

Due to the restrictions in the transport of pigs, pork and byproducts as a preventive measure for African Swine Fever (ASF) virus infection, the livestock were delivered to the association on a staggered basis.

Despite the restrictions, Benguet Provincial Agriculture Office Senior Agriculturist Jocelyn Galunza said that together with the Provincial Veterinary Office, they were able to source out livestock within the municipality of Kapangan, and from nearby ASF-free municipalities like Kibungan, but not a one-time delivery.

“We are protecting Kapangan from ASF, at least now they can buy from us instead of buying pigs outside the municipality which is risky,” Belino said.

While most of the recipients are on their second cycle, some are already on their third. To sustain their livelihood, most of the recipients are planning to raise one pig as sow for piglet production.

As for their income, an amount ranging from PhP3,000.00 to PhP4, 000.00/head is reportedly gained by a member excluding expenses.

In the coming years, the association intends to buy a lot through the association’s savings from the enterprise and to construct a slaughter house. They plan to have a common slaughter area for their pigs for safety purposes and engage in meat processing for added value.

Elvy T. Estacio (DA-PRDP RPCO-CAR InfoACE Unit)