VILLAVICIOSA, ABRA – The long wait is over for the farmers here as they received the first tranche of cattle delivery for their micro enterprise subprojects (formerly Small Livelihood Project) on Cattle Fattening and Marketing Enterprise that got their businesses officially on the go.
Funded under the Department of Agriculture’s Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP) with equity from the Municipal Local Government Unit (MLGU) of Villaviciosa, three out of the nine farmer associations that were issued with No Objection Letter 2 (NOL2) received 69 heads of upgraded male Brahman breed on May 16, 2017 at the Municipal Hall of Villaviciosa, Abra.
These micro enterprises were initially proposed to augment the losses incurred in their farm lands caused by typhoon ‘Lando’ in 2015. Among the first batch who received 23 heads each were the Callao Farmers Association, Inc., the Bolilising Farmers Association, Inc., and the Tukib Farmers Association, Inc.
As per business plan, each association will receive 33 heads to cater 33 farmer members for one cycle production period. It shall be distributed to eligible members of the association with one to two heads per farmer-recipient depending on the member’s capability.
Each recipient will fatten the cattle for at least 6-8 months from purchase of stock. It will be sold per live weight basis upon reaching the marketable weight of 325 kilograms per head.
Jeremias Dalligos, a farmer from Bolilising said that these project is of great help to provide for his family and an add-on to his livelihood. “Nasayaat ta dakel maitulong na daytoy nga proyekto aglalo ta habang padpadakelen ket mabalin nga pang guyod ti apit apan idjay barangay ken ada met native nga baka mi nga pag-breedan ket dumadakel tun ti rumwar (this project is beneficial for us farmers since we can use the cattle in transporting our products while fattening it, and we also hope that it can be multiplied)” he added.
To sustain the project, the total acquisition value shall be retained at the association to purchase stocks for other members to benefit and one percent of the gross sales shall be charged by the association as part of their capital build up.
All 207 heads (1st tranche) of upgraded male Brahman breed are expected to be delivered by the end of the month, while the second tranche (90 heads) shall be delivered upon the liquidation of the first tranche. (Elvy S. Taquio, DA-PRDP CARPCO InfoACE Unit)