Two cooperatives finally received the first batch of goats worth P 510,000 from Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform-Philippine Rural Development Project (MAFAR-PRDP) as part of the Goat Multiplication, Fattening and Marketing subproject last May 4, 2021.

Goat is considered as one of priority commodities in the Province of Maguindanao and through this subproject, they aim to boost the goat industry in the province.

35-year-old Roseda Mohammad Chairwoman of Kalian Bangsamoro Womens Agri Marketing Cooperative shared that goat production is economically valuable in the province, as it low maintenance and is easy to take care of.

“Before, it was really difficult for us to raise goats because of the old knowledge and technology used in raising goat. Now, we are very happy because we are given this project,” said Mohammad.

This enterprise subproject aims to produce quality supply live goats, increase income of the target beneficiaries, generate employment and job opportunities in the entire operation, and to increase the cooperative members.

There are nine (9) Goat Multiplication, Fattening, and Marketing subprojects in the Province of Maguindanao under PRDP, and two (2) proponent groups already received the first batch of goats which inlclude the Kalian Bangsamoro Women’s Agri Cooperative and Lumpingan Agri-Preneur Marketing Cooperative.

Each PG received 50 goats for fattening (3-4 months old), 25 native does (8-12 months old, and one (1) boer (8-12 months old.)

Director for Agriculture Services Engr. Ismail Guiamel said, “the main goal of our distributed project under PRPD in partnership with the MAFAR and the Local Government of Maguindanao is to increase the production of livestock and our farmers will have an adequate income for their families.”

Aside from providing farming inputs, MAFAR has also provided various programs that can give knowledge to the people of Buluan and Rajah Buayan regarding proper goat production and management, simple bookkeeping and recordkeeping, and enterprise operation manual.

It is also expected that such programs of the ministry will extend to its neighbouring provinces in the BARMM.

All partners involved urged the communities to take good care of the goats until they have reproduced to sustain this livelihood support. (MAFAR-BARMM | JOY M. MONTECALVO,PSO )