balita-dot-ph, November 12, 2010 2:38 am

NAGA CITY, Nov. 11 — The "GROW Negosyo" program here has included in its list of program beneficiaries the small goat farmers who want to organize themselves as one networks engaged in raising upgraded goat stocks.

A city official said on Thursday the goal to boost the city’s goat industry will be undertaken through partnership between the local government and goat farmers by instituting the supervised goat-raising credit program of the City Hall’s Metro Public Employment Service Office (Metro-PESO).

One of the expected major outputs of the partnership will be the establishment of a small-scale goat milk processing facility.

Other than the milk production, the goat raisers are also planning to engage in goat meat production as it has been observed that while the consumption of carabeef, pork and duck decreased, consumption of chevon (goat meat) along with chicken and chicken eggs increased.

Scientific studies have revealed that goat meat and milk have positive effects on human health and nutrition because of their nutritional and therapeutic properties.

Other than being a livelihood activity that can augment the income of poor families, goat-raising is also an opportunity to advance gender equity by employing women who wish to increase their access and control over productive resources.

The city government’s Growing Opportunities for Wealth or GROW Negosyo, one of the centerpiece programs of Mayor John G. Bongat, is aimed at accelerating the economic growth of the city by establishing and fortifying community-based micro-entrepreneurial undertakings.

Mayor Bongat said goat farming promises to become a major player in the city government’s effort to achieve economic progress which is to be included in the year-round external fund-sourcing activities of Metro-PESO.

“It is expected to bring major impacts in the community level like higher employment rate, improved household income level and the emergence of model entrepreneurs,” Bongat said.

Other barangay-based industries which are being given assistance under Metro-PESO’s lending program are: pili nut processing, tinapa, misua, and vegetable pickles processing, soft broom production, and production of charcoal briquettes out of water lilies.

Other priority industries are: wax and candle-making, furniture-making, upholstery, recycling of tire parts, bamboo crafts, slippers and bags, pinangat-making, paper crafts, slippers and vegetable/cut flower production; cacao processing, floor wax, taho/tokwa, eateries, loglog kinalas, candies/wafer, meat processing, rice-cake and tin-crafts, balut-making, and siopao making. [By Jason Neola (PNA Features) scs/LQ/JBN/cbd]

Source: City Hall helps beef up goat industry in Naga barangays