The Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) enterprise development (I-REAP) component goes beyond dole-out assistanceas it rather capacitates project beneficiaries to ensure the success and sustainability of their Project-funded businesses.

To further prepare its project partners for the full implementation of their I-REAP subprojects, the PRDP-Bicol conducted a three-day expository and skills enhancement training on goat production and management on January 24-26 in Naga City. Cluster proponent groups from Masbate namely QUENSCUP Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries & Marginal Farmers Cooperative, Baleno Christian Masagana Multi-purpose Cooperative, Sagip Farmers-Fisherfolks Development Cooperative and Bagong Sirang Multi-purpose Cooperative and the Albay Small Ruminant Raisers Association (ASRRA), members of the Provincial Project Management, and Implementation Unit (PPMIU) IREAP participated in the training.

Staff from the Department of Agriculture-Bicol (DA-Bicol) Livestock Program shared their expertise on small ruminants and facilitated  hands on activities. Mariel Veronica Tud lectured on Goat Breeding and Reproduction, Selection and Culling, Health Management, Pasture Development and Nutrition and Forage Processing including silage production, hay making, and Urea-Molasses Mineral Block (UMMB) making. Meanwhile, Rogelio Cerdeño discussed Goat Breeds, Breeding and Production and Systems of Breeding, Artificial Insemination and House and Fencing. Marianito Tesorero also talked about the Economics of Goat Raising, Identification of Forages, and Importance of Record Keeping. They also demonstrated herd management such as basic treatment, hoof trimming, and artificial insemination at the Pasture Development for Goat and Sheep Production Demonstration Area for Improved Pasture in the DA Central Bicol Experiment Station located in DA Regional Field Office Compound San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur.

PRDP-Bicol approved two subprojects supportive of the goat industry. These are the P14.69 million-worth Masbate Integrated Goat Production and Marketing in Cataingan, Masbate which is now under procurement and the P997,000-worth Enhancing Farm Capacity and Adoption of Nutrition Technology for Goat Production in Legazpi City, Albay which already has 18.05 percent physical progress.

On its midterm implementation, the Project’s I-REAP component led the conduct of business process review for enterprise subprojects, financial management training, and strategic planning as well as training workshop on good manufacturing practices for food and non-food subprojects. PRDP also capacitated its proponent groups and partner local government units  on group organization management, communication and networking, and enterprise operations manual formulation. ### (Annielyn L. Baleza, DA-PRDP Bicol RPCO InfoACE Unit)

DA RFO V Livestock Program Staff Marianito Tesorero demonstrates the process of basic treatment during the hands on activity at the Pasture Development for Goat and Sheep Production Demonstration Area for Improved Pasture in the Department of Agriculture (DA) Central Bicol Experiment Station DA Regional Field Office Compound San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur. (Photo by Annielyn Baleza, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)

DA RFO V AI Technician Rogelio Cerdeño demonstrates the process of artificial insemination during the hands on activity at the Pasture Development for Goat and Sheep Production Demonstration Area for Improved Pasture in the Department of Agriculture (DA) Central Bicol Experiment Station DA Regional Field Office Compound San Agustin, Pili, Camarines Sur. (Photo by Annielyn Baleza, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)

Participants of the Training on Goat Production and Management practice silage production and Urea-Molasses Mineral Block (UMMB) making as part of their hands on training. (Photo by Angelica Peñano, DA-PRDP RPCO V InfoACE Unit)