BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) in the Cordillera region has awarded PHP10 million worth of livestock livelihood assistance to the city to boost the local government’s urban agriculture program.
Dr. Cameron Odsey, DA-Cordillera director, said Wednesday the assistance is for displaced backyard swine farmers who have been barred from raising hogs.
About five years ago, the city banned backyard hog raising in all barangays to prevent the pollution of waterways.
Odsey said the cheque for the PHP10 million was turned over during the opening of the agri-tourism trade fair on May 12.
Of the total, PHP5.84 million would be spent for chicken raising, PHP1.86 million for rabbit raising, and PHP2.3 million for beekeeping.
He added that an additional aid of PHP274,978 worth of vegetable seeds and tools and PHP204,500 for the “gulayan sa paaralan” program were also provided.
“The Secretary (William Dar) is boosting urban agriculture as a measure for food sustainability. This allows residents even in the cities without yards to grow their own vegetables or animals for food,” Odsey said. **Liza Agoot (PNA)
