BACOLOD City – The Negros Occidental provincial government has tapped the expertise of a homegrown farmer to develop a local beef brand and position the province as the cattle production center in the Visayas.
From Feb. 17 to Dec. 31, Luis Francisco Martin, a known practitioner of organic farming and farm tourism will act as the Capitol consultant for cattle and farm diversification and tourism.
Provincial veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena on Thursday said the province is encouraging sugarcane planters to diversify into cattle production and promote farm tourism to maximize farm income.
This is one of the keys to achieve such direction, he added.
The Provincial Veterinary Office said there has been slow growth in the production volume of cattle in Negros Occidental, which shows the need to adopt measures to increase animal population and sustain the overall growth of the industry to answer the beef requirement of the Negrenses.
As a consultant, Martin is expected to provide services like developing plans and strategies, particularly on cattle and farm diversification and tourism, given his sufficient knowledge and technical expertise in cattle breeding, fattening and marketing, pasture development and management, sugarcane diversification and integrated farming.
Martin is currently the director for Visayas of the Federation of Cattle Raisers Association of the Philippines. (with a report from PNA/PN)
