Improved practices in carabao raising and prospects in carabao-based livelihoods are about to benefit about 120 farmers during the “1st Talakayan sa KalabaJuan” held last January 12 at the municipal gymnasium in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.
According to Dr. Daniel Aquino, PCC at Central Luzon State University (CLSU) center director, the forum, with the theme “Maunlad, masaya at malusog na pamayanan sa paggagatasan at pagkakalaba-Juan”, aims to reach out to more carabao owners to actively engage in the Carabao Development Program. This, he said, will be initiated through identification of farmers’ firsthand encounters on carabao-related issues.
“We hope to find possible solutions to these concerns and to share best practices that we have recorded so far to help our dairy-entrepreneurs or dairypreneurs,” Dr. Arnel del Barrio, PCC executive director, said.
The forum focused on topics in breeding, specifically on increasing the chance of a carabao to give birth to a female calf by 60%.
Dr. del Barrio expounded on this saying that the best time for mating the carabaos is between 5 to 7 in the morning, with a specific and very simple instruction to “Do It Before Breakfast”. He encouraged the farmers in attendance to try this technique and PCC, he committed, is willing to provide technical expertise.
“The Talakayan was inspired by the Buffalo Raisers Philippines Facebook page that provides a platform for knowledge-sharing among its more than 4,000 page members and growing,” Dr. Aquino said.
Among those who were present in the event are farmers from Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Bataan, Pampanga, Rizal, and Zambales.
The CDP is PCC’s banner program that fosters the general wellbeing of its clients in the carabao sector through its three-pronged program: Genetic Improvement, Enterprise Development, and Research for Development.
