The dream of the people of Sulu for livelihood projects which would turn the island province into an area of agricultural production will soon become a reality as the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) starts next month a series of training programs on cattle, goat and chicken raising and processing of local products like coconut and agar-agar.
Yesterday, I met with Australian Ambassador to the Philippines Steven Robinson to discuss the possible participation of Australian cattle and goat raisers in helping the people of Sulu and four other provinces within the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslims Mindanao (BARMM) cash in on the billion-dollar Halal meat market in the ASEAN region and the Middle East.
Australia is eyed as the source of cattle and goats for fattening and breeding for Sulu, Tawitawi, Basilan, Lanao del Sur and Maguindanao, along with other Mindanao provinces included in the list of poorest provinces in the country.
MinDA’s livelihood program training for Sulu and the other BARMM provinces was designed in response to the request of farmers and agriculture stakeholders in the area relayed to Bangsamoro Transition Authority member Suharto Ambolodto during a consultation held two months ago.
When Ambolodto relayed the stakeholders’ request for livelihood training to me, I immediately directed the MinDA staff to design a program which will be implemented starting January.
Yesterday, Ambassador Robinson expressed deep interest in the proposed program designed by MinDA since it would involve the supply of steers and heifers from Australia’s Northern Territory.
Joining us in the meeting yesterday were former OFW Arnel Corpuz who used to manage a 50,000-yead Wagyu Feed Lot in Australia and couple Nathaniel and Marivet Caballero of Ultramart who expressed interest in buying the meat production of Sulu and other BARMM provinces.
Next month, a team of experts from the MinDA will conduct a lecture series on how to raise cattle, goats and chicken in the backyard and how to process local products for added value in the BARMM area and other provinces of Mindanao.
(Photos show the Australian Ambassador Steven Robinson, AO, and his party during a visit to the MinDA office yesterday and a file photo of a cattle-fattening facility in South Cotabato.)
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