MASBATE CITY (PIA) — The Department of Agriculture has recently distributed hybrid chickens to more than 400 high school students in Masbate to help them jumpstart their foray into poultry raising.
“My fellow aspiring farm entrepreneurs and I have chosen to get involved in the poultry business because we all know that Filipinos love chicken and egg,” said Geselle Roxas, a graduating student of Bayombon National High School in Masbate City.
Roxas said her Rhode Island Reds chickens can be kept in small enclosures that are easy to maintain and provide plenty of fresh eggs and meat for those who enjoy eating bird meat.
Bolo National High School students receive their share of the poultry distribution recently conducted by the Agricultural Training Institute. (Ernesto Delgado/PIA)
Roxas is one of the 420 teenagers who availed themselves of grants from Binhi ng Pagasa Program (BPP), a starter kit distribution program organized by the Agricultural Training Institute to capacitate the youth and prepare them to become future agriculture leaders.
“This is part of the goal of gradually mending the constant decline of Filipinos engaged in agriculture,” ATI Bicol Center Director Elsa Parot said during a dialogue with BPP beneficiaries in Balud, Masbate.
Before the distribution of the starter kits, each one of which consisted of a rooster and eight hens, the beneficiaries underwent training in free-range raising, leadership in agriculture, and values formation.
Brench Bartolata, an 19-year-old sophomore majoring in agriculture, said he is optimistic that his backyard poultry will be one of the success stories of BPP.
Geselle Roxas, 17, receives her share of chickens from the Agricultural Training Institute November 27, 2023. Beside her is her proud and supportive mother, Geralyn.
“Rearing chicken in our backyard makes me feel at ease, and gives me hope for a better tomorrow,” he said.
San Jacinto Municipal Agriculture Officer Mona Clemente Porio said she and her staff would help the young chicken farmers in dealing with backyard raising challenges.
“We will help them come up with good planning, and take appropriate measures to prevent avian diseases that are a common problem in poultry farming,” she said. (PIA 5/Masbate)
Agricultural Training Institute Bicol Center Director Elsa Parot. (Ernesto Delgado/PIA)
A worker prepares to unload the chickens prior to their distribution to high school students in San Jacinto, Masbate November 29, 2023. (Ernesto Delgado/PIA)
