40 Abrenian farmers receive carabaos, swine

By Maria Teresa B. Benas

Monday 23rd of July 2012

BANGUED, Abra, July 23 (PIA) -- Governor Eustaquio P. Bersamin led the distribution of contract certificates as proof of ownership of the carabaos and swine given to 40 farmers at the provincial capitol social hall last week.

The swine and carabao dispersal project is part of the commitments of Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala during his visit to Abra on March 27.

In a report from the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPVET) headed by Dr. Diosdado B. Taverner, 14 municipalities benefited from the carabao dispersal: Lagayan, Bucloc, Daguioman, Danglas, La Paz, Lacub, San Isidro, and San Juan with one head each, while the municipalities of Lagangilang, Langiden, Licuan-Baay, Tineg, Penarrubia, and Pidigan were given two heads each.

The carabaos were procured from Masbate, and these are the native carabaos that can be upgraded through artificial insemination.

Novelou Baginon of the OPVET explained the carabao dispersal scheme requires the recipients to pay back the carabao given to them.

The recipients shall pay back the carabao with the second female kid to be given to the OPVET.

The female kid will in turn be given to another interested recipient and the same scheme shall be followed until more and more farmers are given the opportunity to avail of the dispersal program.

The certificate of ownership of the carabao shall only be given to the farmer-recipient after he has paid back the carabao given to him, Banginon said.

The same dispersal scheme applies in the distribution of swine but the repayment requires two heads instead of one. This scheme requires repayment of two female piglets which are in turn, also distributed to other interested recipient. The swine were given earlier through the DA- egional field unit in April 2012.

There were 12 municipalities involved in the swine dispersal with Bangued given six heads; Tineg, three; Luba, two; and one head each to the municipalities of Bucay, Dolores, Malibcong, Pilar, San Quintin, Villaviciosa, Lagayan, Licuan-Baay, and Penarrubia.

Like the carabaos, the swine are the native species that can be upgraded through artificial insemination with the technical assistance of the OPVET. (JDP/MTBB-PIA CAR, Abra)