The Department of Agriculture recognizes the important role of the local government units for a sustainable livestock industry in the region.

As such, DA Caraga forged its partnership with the LGUs in the implementation of the Multiplier Farms Project (MFP).

Under the project, DA, with LGU as the partner will establish multiplier farms (MF) in strategic areas in Caraga Region. From these farms, animals like native swine, chicken, goats, and honeybees shall be produced.

“The offspring of these animals shall then be distributed to deserving and qualified farmers and fisherfolks,” says Edelmira Luminarias, DA Caraga Livestock Coordinator.

In 2016, there were four goat multiplier farms established in the region while this year a total of 30 will be established and another 30 for 2018.

For each recipient, DA will provide modules for goat, native chicken, swine, and honeybees. Goat module includes 10 heads female and 1 male, native chicken includes 50 heads pullets and ten roosters, swine includes 10 gilts and one boar and two colonies of honeybees for initial 8 targeted beneficiaries for the current year.

The module also includes provisions for housing; facilities for feeding, water and lighting; and biologics.

LGU, on the other hand, will provide the required space, manpower, feeds and will shoulder the costs of water and electricity.

In two years of operation, goat multiplier farms are expected to produce 120 goats. The chicken would generate some 1,700 potential replacement pullets that can be a source of foundation stocks in putting up other multiplier farm modules while native swine would generate some 120 piglets per year.

Provincial livestock coordinator Eddie Janier said that Surigao del Norte fully supports the undertaking since the project is in parallel with the trusts and programs of the provincial government.

“This is a laudable project since it can help our constituents,” he said.

“Farmers will benefit from MFP since it will be the source of quality breeding stocks and LGU led dispersal to sustain and invigorate our livestock and poultry industry in Caraga Region,” Luminarias said.

Without the multiplier farms, poultry and livestock raisers in the region sourced out its stocks from Davao Region, Misamis Oriental, and Cebu.

Poultry industry shares 6.3 percent to Caraga Region’s agricultural output while contributing 4.21 percent to Mindanao and 0.79 percent to the country’s total poultry production.

For swine, Caraga Region contributes 5.51 percent to Mindanao and 1.87 percent to the country’s hog production. Most of the farms are operated in the backyard while in goat, Caraga Region contributes 3.24 percent to Mindanao and 1.20 percent to national production based on 2015 data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.