Agribiz Kapihan launched in Bacolod City

The “Agribiz Kapihan sa Negros” was launched on October 20 at the provincial capitol by the Negros Economic Development Foundation (NEDF) in collaboration with the provincial government headed by Gov. Alfredo Marañon.

Henceforth, the forum which is open free to every farming enthusiast will be held every third Saturday of the month, according to Gov. Marañon who is himself a farmer raising Vannamae shrimps in Sagay town.

Invited from Manila for the launching were Arsenio “Toto” Barcelona of Harbest Agribusiness and yours truly (Zac B. Sarian), agriculture editor of the Manila Bulletin. The two shared their insights on agriculture and experiences in holding Agribiz Kapihan which is mainly sharing of know-how and innovative technologies in agriculture.

HOME-GROWN INTEGRATOR – One of the attendees who is very successful in poultry production is a home-grown integrator. He is Joseph Anthony Arguelles of Araco Poultry and Livestock Corporation in Bacolod City. An animal science graduate from Xavier University in Cagayan de Oro, he began growing broilers in 2006 with just 5,000 birds a week for a start.

Today Araco’s production has increased many times over. It has become an integrator with 45 contract growers. The operation produces 100,000 dressed chicken every week which are sold all over Negros Island. Several years back, there were three big players in Negros Occidental – Vitarich, Swift and San Miguel. Swift had ceased operation altogether while Vitarich consolidated its production in Panay. Only San Miguel was left so there was some kind of a vacuum in Negros. Arguelles took advantage of that to expand his production.

Araco maintains 80,000 Cobb breeders to produce the day-old chicks required by the 45 contract growers. He gave us some figures from which we can base our conclusions. Joseph said that the broilers are raised for 30 days, weighing an average of 1.35 kilos per

CHRISTOPHER FADRIGA is into heirloom cacao propagation and production. He loves the heirloom varieties imported from Mexico centuries ago because they have more desirable flavor. Now, Fadriga says that the Mexicans want to buy back the heirloom varieties.

JOSEPH ANTHONY ARGUELLES is head of Araco Poultry and Livestock Corporation, a home-grown integrator in Negros Occidental, producing 100,000 dressed broilers every week. He has 45 contract growers who raise the chicks for 30 days, each attaining 1.35 kilos at harvest time.