LAMUT, Ifugao(PIA) — The local government unit of Lamut and the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC) in Cagayan Valley are collaborating to increase the number of buffaloes in the municipality and provide income-generating opportunities to farmers.
Seven farmers organizations in town recently received a total of 57 dairy buffaloes from the DA-PCC through the LGU. The Pugol Indigenous Farmers Association, Compra Neighborhood Association (CNA) and Lamut Cluster of Livestock Farmers Association (LCLFA) received ten dairy buffaloes each while the One Lamut Agriculture Cooperative got nine.
The Nunhabatan Upland Farmers Livelihood Association (NUFLA) also eight buffaloes, six for the Farmers Association of Reunited Maleteng, and four for the Lamut Organic Practitioners Agriculture Cooperative.
Lamut Municipal Agriculturist Michael Tegui-in, Jr. disclosed that the animal dispersal is intended for the Dairy Herd Buffalo Production Project of the municipality in partnership with the DA-PCC.
“We targeted ten registered farmers organizations as recipients and we are expecting more deliveries from the DA-PCC for the remaining three organizations. These organizations have undergone various social preparation and management trainings for the success of the project,” he said.
Tegui-in shared that in support to the program, an ordinance will be legislated to ensure that the intervention provided by the PCC will be managed properly and that the animals will not be sold or butchered in any cultural activities or ritual.
“We will provide assistance through our regular programs and services wherein our technicians will conduct artificial insemination, mass deworming and other services needed to ensure the success,” he added.
LCLFA president Federico Kimayong lauded the PCC-Cagayan Valley and Nueva Ecija for the assistance provided to them.
“Here in our barangay Pugol, three organizations received a total of 30 dairy buffaloes with the help of the Municipal Agriculture Office, Mayor Victomar Bunnol and other personalities,” Kimayong said.
CNA president Alberto Uyami said that the assistance is a great help to their organization in gaining income of profit that will help uplift the living condition of the members in the future.
Kimayong and Uyami assured that through their leadership, the assistance provided to their organizations will be managed properly for the benefit of the members and the organizations.
The LGU hopes that after six to seven years from now, the municipality of Lamut will be the dairy center of Ifugao. (JDP/MBL-PIA CAR, Ifugao)
