Livestock raisers: Amend anti-GMO ordinance
BACOLOD CITY – Livestock, poultry and gamefowl raisers in the province want an amendment of the provincial ordinance which bans genetically modified products (GMO) specifically corn.
Dr. Rodney Ta-ala, President of the Alliance of Hog Raisers of Negros Occidental, and Mr. Ray dela Rama, HRANO Vice President said their association which is composed of 24 backyard hog raisers and 2 commercial hog raisers will come up with its position paper to ask the provincial government to take action on the amendment of the said ordinance which they see as detrimental to the industry.
Dr. Ta-ala said 40% – 60% of the hog feeds are corn, thus the banning of the corn that is genetically modified will have a big impact to these existing industries.
He added that GMO is not a poison or harmful, but an answer to the food security of the world.
There is no study which scientifically proves that GMO is harmful, he said.
There are 400,000 pigs being raised here in the province and only one-percent of the total swine population use what they claimed as organic method. The 99% are into conventional way of raising hogs.
They could not imagine the feeds without soybeans wherein soybeans are GMO.
They both believe that GMO is not harmful. Junk foods are considered GMOs, these are directly eaten by humans and it’s been there, they said.
The banning of GMO products is a way of killing the industry.
Mr. dela Rama said, “If we go organic, it would be very expensive because it will not be as efficient to produce corn. With GMO, they can produce 5 to 7 tons per hectare while in organic farming, it will only produce 2 tons per hectare.”
Engr. Igmedio Tabianan, Provincial Agriculturist, said that they identified a corn supplier from Bukidnon which can supply the province 1,000 tons of organically produced corn every day until end of June.
These are from the MASIPAG farmers of Bukidnon.
They are also expecting a harvest of hybrid corn of around 900,000 tons soon, which is enough to extend organically produced corn and will encourage corn farmers to plant organically.
Governor Zayco said that he is only after the health of the people. If these associations can prove that GMO is safe, the provincial government is open and will be willing to amend the existing ordinance.
He cannot do away with the implementation of the existing ordinance because that is the law.
But if they could prove that GMO is safe, “then we can make the necessary amendment of the Ordinance.”
Mr. dela Rama said that they respect Governor Zayco for doing his job. “But we will ask for his reconsideration because the organic method of raising hogs, poultry and livestock is not feasible now.”
Meanwhile, records from the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena states the average feed consumption requirement of animals per head per day are as follows:
There is an estimated 1 million population for broilers and the average feed consumed per day amounts to 200 grams per head per day or 12.0 metric tons per 60% corn feed requirement.
There are 4 million gamefowls with 100 grams per head per day average feed consumption or 24. 0 tons.
There .5 million of layers with 200 grams per head per day consumption or 7.5 tons.
There are .8 million ducks, geese, etc., with 100 grams per head per day or 4.8 metric tons.
There are .4 million pigs with 1,800 grams per head per day average feed consumption or 43.2 metric tons.
The total corn feed requirement for Negros Occidental every day is 91.5 metric tons of corn.