Lutayan, Sultan Kudarat”•The Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development and Sultan Kudarat State University are currently implementing four science and technology-based halal goat production projects, the agency said Monday.
“There is the Development of LAMP Assay and Quick Test KIT for Haram Detection,” said Marita Carlos, PCAARRD Applied Communication Division Director, during the inauguration of the halal slaughterhouse and processing center at the SKSU Lutayan campus here.
“The slaughterhouse is another project, upgrading SKSU’s agro-mechanic building into a slaughterhouse and processing center area for small ruminants,” she added.
The other project is the establishment of halal goat enterprises thru the FLS Halal GEM in Region 12 and ARMM, Carlos said, along with institutionalizing halal goat enterprises thru halal goat production.
PCAARRD funded these projects, said Anna Marie Alo of the council’s Livestock Research Division specializing on goat.
Alo said the country has the Philippine National Standard Code of Halal Goat Production to ensure that the goat husbandry is in compliance to Islamic Law.
She also said halal-compliant protocols for chevon (goat meat) production were developed and tested by university researchers in consultation with Muslim ulamas.
The protocols were not just based on religious foundations but on the technical aspect of clealiness, hygiene, and good health, Alo said.
Other activities held here were the Halal Goat Field Day and the launching of the Agri-Aqua Technology Business Incubation Project.
The activities were led by SKSU President Dr. Rolando Hechanova, PCAARRD Executive Director for Research and Development Dr. Edwin Villar, and other university and council officials.
Local halal goat farmers joined the event.