DA WV forges partnership with ISUFST for goat multiplier enterprise

In a strategic move to enhance agricultural research, extension, and production efforts in the region, the Department of Agriculture (DA) Western Visayas National Livestock Program (NLP) has established a dynamic partnership with the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) for the Livestock Economic Enterprise Development (LEED) Program’s Building Resilience in Developing Goat Multiplier Enterprise (BRIDGE) project.

The turnover and ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on April 18, 2024, at the ISUFST Dingle Campus Agri Ecotourism Farm in Barangay Bongloy, Dingle, Iloilo. The event highlighted DA-WV’s steadfast commitment to empowering local agricultural initiatives through strategic funding. With a significant Php 2.5 million grant allocated to the BRIDGE project, DA-WV aims to strengthen local goat production and consumption, thus enhancing the region’s agricultural resilience.

Mr. Glenn L. Mariano, Assistant Division Chief of the Field Operations Division of DA-WV and the Regional Focal Person for NLP, praised ISUFST for its efficiency in project execution, emphasizing the institution’s crucial role in agricultural development in the region. Mariano commended ISUFST as a model for collaborative efforts, underscoring the university’s instrumental contribution to realizing DA WV’s strategic objectives.

Furthermore, Mariano emphasized the importance of promoting goat consumption within Western Visayas, citing statistics that reveal a considerable disparity in per capita consumption compared to other meat products. By leveraging ISUFST’s expertise and resources, DA-WV aims to bridge this gap and cultivate a culture of goat meat and milk consumption within the local community.

The ceremony provided a platform for Ms. Fernie Rose Dato-on, DA-WV Livestock Program Report Officer, to elucidate the dual focus of the BRIDGE project: augmenting local goat populations and enhancing community livelihoods. Dato-on’s comprehensive overview highlighted the strategic alignment between DA-WV’s funding initiatives and ISUFST’s operational expertise, showcasing the synergistic potential of the partnership.

The presence of key stakeholders, including Dr. Noli Gerona, Dean of the College of Agriculture, ISUFST officials, project leaders, faculty, students, and representatives from local government units, further reaffirmed their commitment to realizing the shared vision of agricultural prosperity.

A day after the inauguration of BRIDGE project, DA Livestock Undersecretary Deogracias Victor Savellano and DA-WV Regional Executive Director Dennis Arpia visited the ISUFST; visiting LEED program on Goat Multiplier and exploring more collaborations between the DA and ISUFST in fostering innovative projects for sustainable agriculture in the region.### (MCMBuala/DARAFIS 6)

Photo credit: ISUFST/ Dr. Lagon and Golden Grains Publication