By Alpine L. Killa

Bontoc, Mountain Province – The Provincial Government of Mountain Province in partnership with the Department of Agriculture – Cordillera Administrative Region (DA-CAR) has dispersed 17 goats to farmers in the province for the month of June 2015.
Agriculturist II Abraham A. Dogui-is of the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVet) said that two goats were dispersed in Bauko, seven in Bontoc, five in Besao, and three in Sabangan.

Under the dispersal program, the recipients are not permitted to either slaughter or sell the given livestock. Thus, the recipients are liable to re-disperse the first offspring to qualified beneficiaries. This is with the supervision and monitoring of the personnel from the OPVet.

Dogui-is added that the qualified recipients are those individuals who are currently engaged in livestock production and who can provide the equity requirements in raising goats such as goat shed and pasture areas. The subsequent beneficiaries shall provide the same management practices and are also subjected to the same scheme.

Governor Leonard G. Mayaen said that the provincial government is very supportive of this program because it is important to protect the marginalized sectors from the ill-effects of the global financial crisis. The governor remarked that while giving topmost priority to infrastructure, health, education, employment, and peace and order programs, the provincial government also grants equal prominence to agriculture through various programs that will uplift the lives of every farmer in Mountain Province.

The program aims to encourage farmers to engage in other livelihood activities, to generate long- -term earning that can improve their lives.