City to ink pact with DA for livestock, poultry farm project

THE city government of Cagayan de Oro, in partnership with the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office 10 (DA-RFO-10), can now fulfill its commitment to implement a policy of self-sufficiency in food production through Livestock and Poultry Multiplier Farm.

This, after the 18th City Council on its regular session yesterday enacted an ordinance authorizing the City Mayor to enter into and sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the DA-RFO-10 covering the implementation of the DA’s Livestock (Carabao) Multiplier Farm Project.

The project is expected to augment the meager livestock resources of smallholder farmers in the countryside for the global reduction of extreme hunger and poverty. It aims to enhance animal production envisioned to narrow the gaps of the looming poverty incidence through increased number of animal population and making available meat and milk as alternative means to address hunger, nutrition and livelihood problems.

With an approved budget of P150,000 per module under the Livestock Program, the MOA specifically covers the transfer of Breeding Stocks:Carabao (1:5), The Power learned.

Under the MOA, the DAR-RFO-10 shall conduct bidding and procure the breeder animals, deliver and turn over the breeder animals to the city and conduct on-site inspection upon the delivery of the winning bidder/supplier, among others.

For its part, the city shall take care of the animals and continuously provide necessary drugs, medicines and biologics for the good health maintenance of animals.

It shall also provide and maintain adequate housing for the animals, transfer of ownership of animals to the city only after it has completed its payment obligation within three years, repay the same number of breeding animals delivered to DA-RFO-10, payable within three years, among others.

The legislation was reviewed and endorsed by the committees on agriculture and fisheries and on laws and rules chaired respectively by Councilors Annie Y. Daba and Ian Mark Q. Nacaya. (JAO)