WVSU prof leads Darag native chicken program in Western Visayas
Dr. Evelyn Tomambo, a professor at the West Visayas State University takes the lead in the overseeing of the S & T Anchor Program for Philippine Native Chicken (Darag) in Region 6. Dr. Tomambo replaced Dr. Bernabe Cocjin who led the program from 1986 to 2005. Dr. Cocjin who is famous as a "darag guru" retired from the government service last December 2005.
The program is a project of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (Pcarrd) implemented by the West Visayas State University which aims to organize the production and marketing system and enhancing commercialization of native chickens (Darag) through the production of stable and uniform stocks and the development of value-added products.
Cooperating institutions are the Aklan State University, Capiz State University, University of the Philippines in the Visayas, the Department of Agriculture -Western Visayas Integrated Agriculture Research Center, Iloilo State of Fisheries -Dingle campus, Offices of the Provincial Veterinarian in Aklan and Guimaras.
As new program leader, Dr. Tomambo will oversee the over-all implementation of the program. She will ensure that the ongoing and future research and development undertakings of the Pcarrd on native chicken in the region especially on the program's research and development efforts are attuned to the guidelines set forth by Pcarrd.
Moreover, Dr. Tomambo's leadership includes other research and development projects under the aforesaid program which are implemented by Western Visayas Agriculture Resources Research and Development Consortium (Wesvarrdec) member institutions, which includes WVSU.
Currently the Consortium is in charge of the IEC component of the project which is responsible for the gathering of Darag related information and the packaging of this information into different IEC materials. Some of the materials expected to be produced by Wesvarrdec for the IEC component are the Philippine Native Chicken primer, pre-recorded audio-video materials on Darag care, management and marketing, Ang Darag Bulletin and the development of a website focusing on Darag.
Current R&D initiatives on the Darag include development of performance of quality standards, development of a true-to-type strain suited for free-range production system, production of improved day-old and hardened chicks, and marketing of the native chicken.
Dr. Tomambo will also supervise the WVSU funded projects on Darag chickens and other initiatives and activities directly or indirectly related towards the development of the Darag as a local poultry resource useful in enterprise building.
Dr. Tomambo, a doctorate degree holder in Agricultural Sciences major in Animal Science, is an active member of the University's pool of faculty researchers. A recognized research presenter in local, national and international fora, she has been actively engaged with the University's research and development on native chicken, in which WVSU is recognized within the region as a forerunner.
The research and development on native chicken especially on Darag was initiated due to rising demands for native chicken, where reports indicate that 1,785 heads are consumed per day (Cabarles and Dusaran, 2006). However due to insufficient effective native chicken management such demands can not be met well. Thus, institutions such as the WVSU and the WESVARRDEC, with funding from PCARRD, spearheaded the R&D efforts on native chicken improvement, utilization and conservation, information dissemination and marketing especially on the Darag strain with the hope of not only improving native chicken marketing but also provide backyard farmers additional income.
(Juhn Evans G. Silda)