DA Increases Financial Assistance for Hog Raisers

The Department of Agriculture (DA) is looking to double its financial aid to construct bio-secure hog facilities to aid in the recovery of the local industry in light of recent cases of African swine flu (ASF) in the Philippines.

The DA released a memorandum circular increasing their fund grant from a previous ₱5.5 million to ₱10 million under the National Swine Production Initiatives For Recovery And Expansion (INSPIRE) program’s component 1, that is calibrated repopulation and growth of production via consolidation and farm clustering.

This grant will be awarded to eligible farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs) that choose to build new bio-secure facilities.

With the new funding coverage, the FCA will get over ₱6 million for the bio-secure facility. This would include the climate-controlled animal house, perimeter fence, basic farm equipment, office and shower area, and waste management.

A ₱2.4 million funding will be for the purchasing of the 300 piglets, ₱1.5 million will be for biological support and feeds, then ₱100,000 will be allocated for other items like disinfectants, all totaling ₱10 million.

To be eligible for the grant, FCAs are asked to have a minimum of 2,000 square meters of land. The circular likewise states that the DA has extended additional options for FCAs that lack existing facilities.

These FCAs that lack facilities are eligible for a fund grant of over ₱5 million for the construction of a conventional type of animal house which would include basic farm equipment, perimeter fence, purchasing over 100 piglets, feeds, test kits, and disinfectants.

The FCAs that are interested in this package are required to have at least 1,000 square meters of land.

Source: Philstar