In line with the implementation of the Intensified Community-Based Dairy Enterprise Development (ICBDED) Project, the Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) conducted an onsite monitoring on the status of dairy goats distributed to recipient-organizations in the Province of Isabela on June 27 to July 1, 2022.

Together with the technical staff from the National Dairy Authority (NDA), PCAF visited and interviewed the recipients of 260-ready-to-breed Saanen does and 11 Saanen bucks.

Ten selected members of Mallig Dairy Cooperative (MDC) were given a total of 156 goats on July 4, 2021 while 10 members of Tobacco Growers Association (TGA) were provided with 104 goats on June 29, 2021. These goats are sheltered in a 120-square meter communal farm that is owned and operated by the organizations.

In the first year of operations, MDC experienced a 20% mortality rate on the initially distributed goats while TGA faced a 13% mortality rate. The common cause of death reported among the does was pneumonia while it was testicular problems that hit the bucks.

Given that the NDA applied for the livestock mortality insurance of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) upon the distribution of the goats, the agency was able to claim PhP63,000 for the loss of each head that originally costed PhP70,000.

PCAF then recommended that the recipients insure the goats with the PCIC for the succeeding years of operations to avoid loss of investment and ensure the continuity of the project.

Both MDC and TGA successfully managed to increase their goat population by the time of the monitoring at 212 heads and 117 heads, respectively.

ICBDED is a project under the United States Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act or Public Law 480 (US PL480) Title 1 Program that seeks to increase the average income of dairy farmers and improve the nutrition of Filipino families by increasing herd numbers and boosting local milk production.

It is jointly implemented by the NDA and the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC). PCAF, as the PL-480 Program fund manager, is primarily in-charge of the overall monitoring and evaluation of the project. | JCL