The government launched the first biosecure swine multiplier technology-demonstration farm in Ilocos Region as part of the government’s program to fight African swine fever (ASF), raise swine production and give livelihood to small farmers.
Agriculture Undersecretary Deogracias Victor Savellano attended the opening of the Swine Multiplier and Technology Demonstration (SMTD) farm in Natividad, Pangasinan on Oct. 24.
“We will repopulate our hog sector through these swine technology centers. We have put in place biosecurity measures that use a standard shelter design for hogs to keep small farms away from ASF,” said Savellano.
Good swine genetics will be disseminated through the technology centers. Savellano said farmers’ trainings on biosecurity measures would help the Philippines raise hog inventory and pork supply.
“The facility will provide support to local raisers by making available breeders and breeding materials and by producing adequate and quality stocks to supply DA and other agencies’ needs for sustainability in production,” he said.
The Department of Agriculture allocated P40 million for four SMTDs in Ilocos Region. A budget of P10 million per SMTD includes provision for tunnel vent type facility and 30 breeder sows and feeds.
Three other facilities will be launched this year, including those in Manaoag, Pangasinan and Candon and Vigan in Ilocos Sur.
Local government units (LGU) provide the land for the swine facility as their counterpart support. Farmers are trained on biosecure hog raising prior to receiving their swine.
The DA’s National Livestock Program (NLP) teamed up with the International Training Center on Pig Husbandry (ITCPH) based in Lipa City, Batangas for the house design for the hogs, according to Agricultural Training Institute livestock focal person Krizel Joy Natividad.
The SMTD was introduced under DA-NLP’s Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program. It is a hog repopulation program aimed at raising hog inventory following heavy ASF infestation, said Aurelio Salvador of DA-Livestock.
Biosecurity measures in the swine program include disinfestation process under which farm workers are required to bathe for disinfection before and after entering the swine facilities. They also go through a 24-hour quarantine after entry to the facilities.
The swine facility itself is air-conditioned and has curtains that keep the facility off infection.