Agri Pinoy Livestock Program Regional Coordinator Dr John B. Pascual said backyard swine raising and meat processing can help earn money.

“Through home meat processing, swine raisers themselves can make and supply meat products like ham, pork nuggets, tocino and longanisa to the market thus gaining extra income,“ Dr Pascual added.

He also said that the use of home-mixed feeds is good in raising high quality swine as validated by the research study conducted by Dr Neil C. Doton, Veterinarian II of the Department of Agriculture-Central Mindanao Integrated Agricultural Research Center (DA-CEMIARC) in Amas, Kidapawan City.

The campaign for home meat processing was given emphasis during the recently conducted Value Added Seminar on Pig Butchering and Meat Processing at the Provincial Livelihood Learning Center in Barangay Patag, Malapatan, Sarangani Province.

The seminar taught the 27 participants from Patag Swine Raisers Association how to butcher pigs, cut and process pork meat.

To further help swine raisers, the Livestock Division will conduct monthly trainings in line with this to different provinces in Soccsksargen region.

On the other hand, DA Regional Executive Director Amalia J. Datukan said that this kind of project is aimed at giving focus to livestock and poultry products as part of the advancement of the department’s Food Staples Self-Sufficiency Program (FSSP).