Enhancing smallhold goat production in Region 1 [Ilocos Region, Philippines]

In Region 1, goat raising is popular and an integral component of the region's agricultural system. However, animal productivity remains low. To improve the goat productivity in Region 1, particularly in smallhold rainfed farms, Datuin et al. (DA-RFU1/ILIARC) spearheaded a development project on goat production technology demonstration in vigan City and Galimuyod, Ilocos Sur; and Alaminos City, Bani, Bugallon, and Mangatarem, Pangasinan in 2004. The group used the 'learning by doing' participatory approach to disseminate applicable interventions in goat production and established strong partnership among local government units (LGUs), non-governmental organizations, and state colleges and universities. The project was an offshoot of the ILRI-ADB-PCARRD project, Criop-Animal Systems Research Network (CASREN) that was completed in Dec 2004 and the ILRI/IFAD-PCARRD. Farmer Livestock School on Integrated Goat Management. The number of farmer adoptors increased from 68 in 2004 to 200 in 2005. This was attributed to the full support of local officials (barangay, city/municipal, and provincial LGUs and the extension workers) and the phase-by-phase introduction of the technologies in the sites that resulted in positive changes in the farmer-partners' knowledge, attitude, and skills. Technology interventions adopted by farmers increased by 289 percent. This was brought about by the farmer-partners' fast adoption technologies as well as the institutionalization of the project in the LGUs concerned. Moreover, this showed that the adoptors appreciated the advantages of the technology interventions offered to them and they recognized the real benefits of the technologies. Of the improved technologies recommended, the highly adopted ones were stall feeding, chemical deworming, tree legume supplementation, and stock upgrading. The farmers adopted technologies that they viewed could solve their problems on high mortality, high morbidity, and slow growth. Goat inventory increased from 1,371 head before the project to 2,498 after the project or an 82 percent increase in goat population in the project sites. This was brought about by the increased number of farmer adoptors and improved animal productivity as a result of the farmers' adoption of appropriate technologies. Goat mortality was drastically reduced from 55 percent to 13 percent due to the adoption of the improved technologies. Results showed that the 'learning by doing' participatory approach to disseminate applicable technologies in goat production, along with strong partnership with various stakeholders, is viable and sustainable for improved goat production. These can be employed in other areas of the country to hasten development of goat-based enterprises.