Villar pushes backyard native animals production

With the rising cost of food products due to high inflation rates, Filipinos need to be resilient and self-sufficient to sustain their family’s food requirements, Sen. Cynthia A. Villar has stressed.

“Everything has become expensive, especially basic food supplies. We are now all feeling the impact of our country's all-time high inflation rate for the past 9 years. We have to act decisively to make sure our families eat healthy,” Villar said.

Villar, who is the chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, said raising native animals in one’s backyard is a practical and handy solution to ensure that families have food to serve on their tables.

Villar reminded producers of native animals that families will always spare money for their meat supplies to meet their nutritional requirements. Meat products are rich in protein, B and E vitamins, iron, zinc and magnesium.

Data from the Department of Agriculture (DA) shows meat consumption among Filipinos has increased from 15 kilos per person (historical figure as per FAO) to 35 kilos per person per year. However, 65 per cent of local livestock continue to be raised in small-scale backyard farms.

Villar stressed it is important for farmers and animal producers to update their skills and know the latest innovations to improve their production and increase their incomes.

“Year in, year out modern methods are discovered and offered. It's a continuous cycle and our native animal producers should remain updated. There are opportunities in trainings, seminars, marketing, and planning. You should always leave room for new knowledge and improvement,’ Villar told the 50 participants who attended a two-day training for trainors on native animal production held at the Villar SIPAG Farm School in Bacoor, Cavite.

The training was offered jointly by the Villar SIPAG Foundation and the Bureau of Animal Industry-National Swine and Poultry Research and Development Center. It was attended by trainors for animal breeders and meat producers, and representatives of farmers organizations, cooperatives, farm schools, learning sites, DepED (K-12) and LGUs from the CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon also Rizal) and the National Capital Region and Bicol Region.