Swine-tastic: NEGROS FA PUTS UP OWN MEATSHOP AFTER STEADY INCOME FROM SAAD HOG PROJECT

By Christ John Gamarcha

The Toboso Paravet Hog Raisers and Farmers’ Association (TOPAHARFA) in Toboso, Negros Occidental opened up its own meat shop business after accumulating Php 890,140 gross income from their swine production venture.

TOPAHARFA with 30 members is a beneficiary of the Department of Agriculture – Special Area for Agricultural Development (DA-SAAD) Program Phase 1 FY 2022 Swine Production Project worth Php 791,200.

Chairperson Mr. Jubert Gabo, said their group started their first cycle of livestock project in May 2022 and they were able to sustain their production for the third cycle until April 2023.

Most of TOPAHARFA’s members are volunteer paravets hailing from different barangay units in Toboso. Paravets are barangay-based volunteers trained and mobilized as animal vaccinators to assist technical personnel of the local government in conducting various veterinary extension services. Some of the members, meanwhile, are small-scale backyard hog raisers and backyard vegetable growers.