BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental provincial government distributed post-harvest facilities – of around P5-million – to 13 groups of recipients with the assistance of the Provincial Veterinary Office (PVO).
Provincial veterinarian Renante Decena, during the turnover ceremony at the Provincial Capitol grounds here on Thursday said the assistance aims to enhance the capabilities of livestock associations and local government units (LGUs) as active partners of the province towards economic development.
The provision of equipment was implemented under the PVO’s Marketing Support and Post-Harvest Facilities Project.
Seven of the recipients were Murcia Hog Raisers Association, La Castellana I Personnel Multipurpose Cooperative, La Castellana Hog Raisers Association, Alijis Livestock, and Hog Raisers Marketing Cooperative, Talisay Backyard Hog Raisers Association, Himamaylan Hog Raisers Association, and Victorias Hog Raisers Association.
They were given value-adding equipment like meat grinders, meat slicers, bone saw cutters, digital weighing scales, glass top chest freezers, upright chillers with freezer and vacuum packaging machines.
The six LGUs – Salvador Benedicto, Hinoba-an, Calatrava, Kabankalan City, Sagay City, and Moises Padilla – received livestock weighing scales for cattle and detachable animal holding pens.
Decena said the equipment will provide wider opportunities for animal raisers and organized livestock associations to engage in entrepreneurial activities.
He added that they will utilize the equipment for livestock auction markets and slaughterhouses.
Decena said the provincial government, LGUs, and other recipients shared responsibility in sustaining the project.
“If these facilities will be properly and efficiently used by the local governments and farmers and are able to uplift the economic condition of the community then the program is successful,” Decena said.
According to the PVO project brief, the procurement of value-adding equipment and machines will increase consumer demands regarding health, nutrition, and convenience.
Nancy Acak, chairperson of Alijis Livestock and Hog Raisers Marketing Cooperative, said the project will be a big help to them given the low price of pork.
“Having a meat shop will enable us to directly sell our products without passing through middlemen so the income opportunity for us is better,” said Acak.(With a report from PNA/PN)
