Theirs Is The Breed That Lays Golden Eggs. SAAD Helps 15 Catanduanes Chicken Raisers Sell Initial P21K In 2 Months! – The Women Of Suchan Deserve The Income, The DA Deserves The Thanks

Now is the time for some good women to come to the aid of their families and engage in a business that lays short of golden eggs. I am talking of 15 women members of the Suchan Chicken Raisers’ Association (SCRA) who last year raised P21,150 in 2 months!

Jennifer Valcobero says, “Php 21K Initial Income Of 15 Poultry Raisers In Catanduanes Reported” (28 Feb 2022, Special Area for Agricultural Development, saad.da.gov.ph). The SCRA women are from barangay Suchan in Bagamanoc, Catanduanes. In July 2021, they had received from the Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) Program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) P656,000 worth of poultry inputs that included 400 chickens (Kabir), 80 bags of grower feeds, 120 bags of layer feeds, feeders, drinkers/waterers, and a freezer. (The Kabir chicken is a breed by Kabir International, sold by Cobb-Vantress – putakputak.com.)

The SCRA poultry area was/is 400 sqm. 2-3 members were on duty for maintenance, stock feeding, and collecting of eggs (when the laying began). 4 months after start, the group were already gathering 80-100 eggs per day, selling each at P5, to neighbors and walk-ins.

The earnings were not distributed as income but went into the expansion of the chicken housing, bamboo and nipa, for the incubator they received from SAAD in 2020. From the eggs hatched, they plan to increase their flock to increase their income. (A business note: Once the chickens reach their highest and sustained production stage, only then will the 15 SCRA members receive their share of the earnings.)

There is something I don’t understand – why did the Suchan ladies choose Kabir, an imported breed? We have several native breeds, one of them in fact is a Bicolana, named Camarines.

How do I know when I am not a poultry expert? Well, in March 2016 I did much of the literature search and was volume editor of the 200-page book that came out: Philippine Native Animals:Source Of Pride & Wealth Worth Conserving & Utilizing, published by the National Swine & Poultry Research & Development Centerbased in Tiaong, Quezon, and authored by Rene C Santiago, Angel L Lambio & Karen C Dimaranan (see my 03 Oct 2016 essay, “Philippine Natives: Wealth & Treasures Transforming Lives,” Common Cause, Blogspot.com).

So I personally know that are 5 native breeds of Philippine chickens: Banaba from Batangas, Bolinao from Pangasinan, Camarines from the Bicol Region, Joloano from Basilan, and Paraoakan from Palawan (pp 40-43). The Philippine native chickens are known by foreigners and locals for their unique tastes who gladly patronize them when available. So, not explained in the news, I don’t understand the choice of Kabir, a foreign breed of chicken. Could it be the eggs? Anyway, I hope SCRA will raise the local birds next time around!

In the meantime, I learn that they have started producing salted and pickled eggs. Ah, what will the 15 Suchan ladies think of next?@517