DA readying livestock, poultry subsectors for export

The Philippines can become competitive in exporting livestock and poultry, especially with the elimination of tariffs on most farm goods traded within the ASEAN region once the region is integrated into a single market in 2015, the Department of Agriculture said. “We have the capability to export," said Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala at the sidelines of the Philippine Economic Briefing at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Wednesday. "We are preparing the livestock and poultry sector because these industries are free from foot-and-mouth disease and bird flu,” he also said. The poultry subsector had a gross value of P167.1 billion in 2012, registering a 4.5-percent year-on-year growth. The subsector, which accounts for 14.3 percent of the full year farm output, also saw gains in the production of chicken (4.6 percent) and egg (4.4 percent) respectively. Duck meat and egg production increased by 2 percent and 5.5 percent respectively. Livestock production grew 1.1 percent and had a total gross value of P214.3 billion. The subsector accounts for 16 percent of the full year farm output. The Agriculture Department is negotiating a large export volume of duck to Japan and Singapore, with the government currently establishing triple dressing plants for the product. — BM, GMA News