Davao livestock, poultry raisers get P130 M loan

The Department of Agriculture is extending P130 million in loan funds for livestock and poultry raisers in Davao City for the establishment of facilities to ensure growth of the sectors in the region.

In a recent stakeholders meeting with poultry and livestock raisers, Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol committed the establishment of a feedmill for backyard hog raisers and a facility to process chicken wastes into organic fertilizers.

“We are endorsing a P100 million loan by poultry raisers for the establishment of a broiler and layer hatchery facility to supply the chicks needed by small farmers,” Piñol said.

The loan application will be endorsed by the DA to the Land Bank of the Philippines and the Development Bank of the Philippines.

A P10-million feedmill facility for backyard hog raisers and another P10-million organic fertilizer processing facility have also been set.

“The facility would process chicken dung and other animal wastes into fertilizer to address the problem of waste disposal and at the same time support organic farmers in the region,” Piñol said.

The DA is also considering a loan fund of P3 million for the dairy cattle farmers of Malagos to be used as their working capital to buy back the offsprings of the cows the association dispersed to its members.

Breeding materials for both meat and dairy goats, which will be acquired through the US PL 480 funds from the US Department of Agriculture, is also eyed.

The loan funds will be made available to the Davao poultry and livestock farmers in the first quarter of 2019 through DA-attached lending agency Agricultural Credit Policy Council.