BAI crafts 5-year dev’t plan for livestock

The Department of Agriculture’s (DA) Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI) has started implementing a five-year strategic plan to push the growth of the country’s livestock industry, which is one of the fast-performing subsectors in agriculture in 2015.

Just this week, the DA launched BAI 2016-2020 Strategic Plan and unveiled a strategic map.

The five- year development plan will set the organizational directions that the bureau will pursue, while the strategic map sets out the ten priority programs of BAI for uplifting the livestock sector towards a world-class and sustainable industry.

These programs include: Animal Genetic Improvement and Conservation; Animal Health and Welfare; Animal Trade Competitiveness Enhancement; Research and Development; ISO Quality Management; Facilities and Laboratory Equipment Modernization; IT Modernization; Stakeholders Engagement; Human Resource Development and Fiscal Management Improvement.

The country’s livestock sector, which is composed of several subsectors including pigs, poultry, and beef, expanded by 3.72 percent in 2015, contributing 17.07 percent to the total agricultural output.

At current prices, the gross value of the subsector’s output amounted to 72.1 billion, which was 1.54 percent higher quarter on quarter. From January to December 2015, production in the subsector increased by 3.83 percent.

Considered as the anchor of the Philippine animal industry towards progress and global competitiveness, BAI just celebrated its 86th Founding Anniversary.

During BAI’s celebration, the Animal Health Training and Information Center was inaugurated and an oath taking ceremony of the elected officers of the rabbit meat producers' organization known as the Association of Rabbit Meat Producers (ARaMP), Inc. was held.

The establishment of ARaMP, Inc. will serve as a tool in promoting the development of rabbit industry in the Philippines.

Another highlight of the celebration was the launching of the Swine Genetic Analytical Service Laboratory, a publicprivate partnership by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development ( PCAARRD) and the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) to support the BAI's Swine Breeder Farm Accreditation Program (SBFAP).

Under this project, the PCAARRD will provide the specialized laboratory equipment for genetic analysis and evaluation while the PCC will handle the expertise to run the genetic testing protocols.

The BAI and ASBAP will provide the room to house the laboratory equipment and will manage the operationalization of the genetic analytical laboratory, respectively.