by Riza June Charity Rafols
The Municipality of Sarah, West Visayas State University, and Panay Darag Chicken Breeders Association, Inc. (PADABA) partnered with GALING-PCAARRD Kontra Covid-19 Program “GALING” (Good Agri-Aqua Livelihood Initiatives toward NationalGoals), to support communities afflicted by Covid-19 around the country to enable communities to recover faster and become more resilient.
Forty farmers benefited from the two-day Darag Native Chicken Production and Marketing activity conducted on September 27-28, 2022, at the Evacuation Center of the Municipality of Sara, Iloilo.
The initiative was made possible through the collaboration of Sara Mayor Jon Aying, WVSU – University Extension and Development Center Director Dr. Ricky Becodo, WVSU- College of Communication Dean, Dr. Ian Espada, and PADABA President Mr. Rosendo DL Parreñas.
The forty project participants and co-operators were chosen based on the interview conducted by the UEDC together with the Municipal Government Livelihood Assistance Division (MGLAD) from more than sixty prospective farmer-beneficiaries in different barangays.
Mr. Rosendo DL Parreñas, PADABA Board Member, discussed the DNC Business Opportunities, DNC Timeline, Housing Care and Management of Chickens, Feeds and Feedings, Selection, and Breeding. Dr. Helen G. Genandoy of the WVSU College of Agriculture and Fisheries (WVSU-CAF) covered chicken health, sanitation, and monitoring topics. To give the participants first-hand experience, they conducted a field visit to the Darag farms owned by Mr. Rogelio Nice of Brgy. Malapaya and Mr. Rodel Brillantes of Brgy. Bagaygay, Sara, Iloilo in the afternoon.
The said multiplier DNC farmers will receive four sets of Darag native chickens composed of four hens, and a rooster-set were identified based on the following criteria: (1) has attended the basic training DNC Production; (2) willing to allocate an area for ranging and has an available area for ranging DNC; (3) ready housing for DNC; (4) area is peaceful and accessible; (5) willing to invest a capital of feeds, and; (6) execute Agreement with WVSU and Sara LGU from the barangays Aguirre, Domingo, Malapaya, Ardemil, Ferraris, Latawan, Aspera, and Aposaga.
The training started with a projection orientation and pretest by Dr. Ricky Becodo. Participants and co-operators will have a month or two to prepare their areas. MGLAD will monitor the progress of the selected farmers headed by Mr. ArgeoProquez Jr. before the distribution of the Darag Native Chicken before the end of the year.