PIG REPOPULATION: Ifugao gets P10M swine multiplier farm, techno-demo projects to boost hog production

Lamut, Ifugao - Hog production in Ifugao and in the Cordillera region as a whole is poised for recovery and growth with the ongoing 30-sow-level swine multiplier farm and techno-demonstration projects by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) in the town of Lamut.

Funded under the Department of Agriculture’s Integrated National Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion (INSPIRE) program, these projects are backed by a P10 million budget. P5 million is allotted for the construction of a climate-controlled facility to house breeder stocks and support sow-weaner production, while the P5 million covers the procurement of stocks, feeds, and biologics.

According to the Philippine Information Agency-Ifugao, the land for the facilities was purchased by the provincial government, headed by Governor Jerry Dalipog.

Swine production is one of the major sources of livelihood for the many smallholder farmers in Cordillera, but the region’s hog industry encountered major challenges because of the emergence of African Swine Fever (ASF), which was first detected in the region in 2020.

The ASF, a highly contagious and often fatal viral disease affecting pigs, has caused significant losses in livestock, re-population of infected pig farms, resulting in interruptions in pork supply in the region and farmers' earnings.

In response to the problem, the DA launched the INSPIRE program as a component of its recovery plan. The program focuses on rebuilding the swine industry through bio-secure production facilities and technology demonstration to promote sustainable practices and ASF prevention.

The swine multiplier farm and techno-demo projects in Lamut are just one of the agency’s continuing support to hog growers in the region, envisioned to serve as a provincial breeding center that will cater to the needs of farmers across Ifugao.

Such projects are expected to help restore confidence among hog raisers in the province and help them mitigate future ASF outbreaks.