by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM
There is drastic increase in prices of pork in the municipality of Kalibo. It went up from P140.00 per kgm on December 8, 2012 to P175.000 as of February 8, 2013. This is a rise of 20 percent just after two months. Traders justify the increase to overwhelming demand on account of the holiday season and the province wide Sto. Niño festivals. Iloilo is Aklan’s major hogs supplier transported to Kalibo Wet Market, side stalls and Boracay.
The Bureau of Agriculture Statistics (BAS) record shows Aklan’s livestock inventory as of January 1, 2012 was 11,836 heads, chicken – 1,038,622 heads, cattle – 28,288 heads and carabaos – 21,713 heads.
As of August 2007, National Statistics Office (NSO) reported the household population of Aklan is 433,219. If a family raises only one hog, this means that 421,383 households or 97.2 percent do not have swine in his backyard. Pigs are known as prime source of emergency fund and family “sacrificial” offering during birthdays, weddings, graduation and fiestas. Moreover, hogs are efficient converters of farm residues and kitchen leftovers to pork.
What can be done about the pathetic livestock situation?
The answer lies in implementing an intensive feedgrains production program that will include corn, sorghum and soybeans. It is lamentable that as of 2011, corn area is only 1,061.0 hectares with a production of 2,817 MT or 2.65 MT per hectare.
Today, Aklan has 10,408 hectares or 60.8 percent rainfed rice farms that could be utilized for feedgrains production. Hybrid yellow corn and sorghum could be planted in this area after rice is harvested. Although corn does not need more water, it needs irrigation water during critical growth stages like early seedling and flowering stages.
Sorghum on the other hand is tolerant of occasional wet soil condition. Soybeans need a rolling fertile area for optimum growth. Other potential areas could be under coconut plantations.
Corn bran constitutes 70 percent of total ration in animal feeds. High cost of commercial livestock feed leaves practically nothing to farmer’s cost of investment. Dr. Lorenzo, a veterinarian of the Department of Agriculture reported that based on their financial analysis, it is the animal buyers and agricultural suppliers who benefit most from backyard piggery project.
In a Kapihan Sa Aklan forum, Mr. William Castillo, Aklan provincial agriculturist revealed that the monthly actual consumption for hogs alone in Aklan is 200-250 heads, majority of which come from other provinces and outsiders call the shots.
The challenge to overcome this problem lies in our willingness to solve it. Providing a key role could be the Agricultural Training Institute to handle technology transfer to farmers and LGU agricultural technologists. LGU can finance agricultural projects in livestock and poultry, rice and corn, vegetables and other crops.
For Aklan to appropriate 10.8 million pesos for agriculture in 2013 is a serious matter to consider. This is an injustice to the underserved farmers and fishermen. They deserve more assistance in order for them to participate in provincial development and progress. /MP
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