KOICA to give DA $3-M grant for carabao project

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) will give the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture a $3-million grant for a project aimed at increasing production and propagation of superior carabaos. The Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) is the beneficiary of the grant, the DA said in a statement Tuesday. In a report to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala, PCC director Libertado Cruz said the project — “Enhancing livestock sector performance in the Philippines" — involves the creation of an electronic data capture system that will hasten genetic data evaluation and analysis as well as a unified web-based genetic information system. It will intensify PCC’s artificial insemination (AI) services and use of embryo technologies to produce a more superior breed of carabaos, the DA said. “This entails upgrading the facilities and services of the PCC National Bull Farm and Semen Laboratory in Carranglan, Nueva Ecija." The records of discussions or ROD were signed on Nov. 5 by DA Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat and KOICA resident representative and team leader Jinoh Kim. Senator Francis Pangilinan, chair of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, and Cruz witnessed the ceremony. “The PCC’s ‘cryobanking’ will be likewise improved with the provision of modern storage equipment to conserve genetic materials of selected livestock species over a longer period," Cruz said. A cryobank is a facility for freezing and preserving semen at low temperatures — usually −196.5° C — for future use. The ROD will be submitted to the KOICA headquarters in Seoul then returned to the Philippines for final discussions between the PCC and the KOICA technical, said Liza Battad, PCC chief for planning and special projects. The project will be launched once the note verbale is signed by the Philippine and south Korean governments before the year ends. “By improving efficiencies and establishing a systematic performance evaluation, genetic gains best redounds to farmers through more animals, increased milk production, and thus more income," Battad added. — VS, GMANews.TV