KIDAPAWAN CITY, Sept. 16 (PNA) — The Department of Agriculture Region 12 (DA-12) has allocated PHP15-million to cushion the impact of the El Niño phenomenon to the livestock industry.
Dr. John Pascual, DA-12 Agri-Pinoy livestock coordinator, said the funding will be utilized for mitigation purposes primarily in the procurement of veterinary drugs and feed concentrates.
A portion of the allotment would also be used for the construction of a storage facility for silages inside the Central Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center CEMIARC) in Balindog, Kidapawan City and Aroman, Carmen, North Cotabato.
Pascual said their office is planning to stock tons of silages such as crops, grasses and leaves as alternative foods for farm animals.
“El Niño will dry wide areas of productive lands including valuable grasses for animals, the reason why we should prepare”, he stressed.
Also, the DA-12 is preparing for the possible increase of heat stroke cases among animals in the region, he added.Only recently, the DA-12 distributed veterinary drugs (biologics) and vaccines to provincial agriculture offices of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, South Cotabato and Sarangani; and the cities of General Santos and Cotabato. (PNA)