Darag IEC Team intensifies advocacy efforts regionwide
The Darag IEC of the S&T Anchor Program for the Philippine Native Chicken (Darag), under the Western Visayas Agriculture and Resources Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC), had recently intensified its tri-media (print, radio and TV) exposure on the Darag native chicken through regionwide advocacy efforts.
The team tapped the DYMT-FM 100.9, one of the award-winning non-commercial radio stations in the country, at the Aklan State University (ASU), Banga, Aklan on the program “Farm Watch: Techno Pinoy Program”, anchored by Miss Gelly Maypa, municipal agricultural officer (MAO) of the place.
Present during the said radio feature were Prof. Marilou AngLopez, Consortium Director of WESVARRDEC and Project Leader of the Project 2.2 IEC Strategies for Philippine Native Chicken Production and Marketing (Darag IEC); Dr. Elsa Abayon, Research Director of ASU; Dr. Omar Bonifacio Jacinto, faculty of ASU-Veterinary School of Medicine and Poultry Health In-charge of Darag Sub-station; and GC Castro and Shalimar Francisco of Darag IEC.
To avoid confusion among the listeners, speakers thoroughly discussed on the distinct characteristics of the Darag native chicken for them to differentiate its features from other native chicken breeds in the region. Darag is the general term for the Philippine native chicken local to Western Visayas. It is known for its typical red plumage, hackle and black feathers and black tail for the male, locally known as Labuyo; while yellowish-brown plumage for the female, also known as Darag.
As the project in-charge in ASU Darag sub-station, Dr. Abayon gave emphasis on the potentials of the Darag native chicken in terms of feeding practices. Local folks are capable of raising the native chicken since they are free-ranged in nature and can feed to indigenous feeds like corn, palay grains, termites, worms and commonly grown grasses. Further, she added that there should be a thorough effort in stabilizing the characteristics of the Darag native chicken.
On the other hand, Dr. Jacinto said that the Darag native chickens are also subject to common diseases. He quoted that very common illnesses are Avian pest (English term for aratay) and the New Castle Disease (NCD). Dr. Jacinto advised the breeders to have early prevention through vaccination and proper hygiene on their poultry areas.
The Darag sub-station in ASU has already conducted several seminar-trainings to the community especially to the farmers interested in the adoption of the Darag native chicken. Further, the Municipality of Banga, Aklan supported the promotion of the commodity by providing Darag native chicken breeding stocks and hardened chicks dispersed to the community. The ASU is also open to any inquiries regarding the said commodity.
Primarily responsible for the development of information materials vital to the Philippine native chicken production and marketing is the Darag IEC. The team targets to conduct tri-media exposures (print, radio and TV) in the Provinces of Antique, Guimaras and Negros Occidental. These efforts are a vital part of the intensive advocacy and information-education advocacy about the Darag native chicken. Through these efforts, member agencies of the consortium are expected to come up with more activities and trainings on the said commodity.
“We are now developing information, education and communication (IEC) materials about the Darag native chicken that will be disseminated to the sub-stations and FITS Centers in various municipalities as a form of help and support of the consortium,” Prof. AngLopez ended.
Moreover, the establishment of the commodity’s niche market has been viewed as an economic potential. Development of value-added products like vacuum sealed litson manok, heat-and-eat delicacies and transportable products out of Darag native chicken are highly expected.
The Darag native chicken advocacy is headed by the Western Visayas Agriculture Research and Development Consortium (WESVARRDEC), in collaboration of its member agencies, under the S&T Anchor Program for Philippine Native Chicken lead by West Visayas State University (WVSU).
For more information about the Darag native chicken, visit us at the WESVARRDEC Office, UP in the Visayas, Gen. Luna St., Iloilo City or call us at (033) 335-0630. You may also log on to the official website, the www.darag.wesvarrdec.org and email us at darag.iec@gmail.com. (Shalimar Francisco, Darag IEC)