The Central Bicol State University of Agriculture (CBSUA) took part in strengthening the future direction of Camarines Sur’s swine industry as it actively participated in the Camarines Sur Swine Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) Updating Stakeholders Consultation held on December 5, 2024, at the Department of Agriculture (DA) Regional Field Office Compound in Pili, Camarines Sur.
The consultation, organized by the Department of Agriculture–Bicol Philippine Rural Development Program (DA PRDP) through the Provincial Project Management and Implementation Unit (PPMIU), gathered about 25 representatives from farmers’ cooperatives, associations, and various regional line agencies. CBSUA joined technical experts from the DA, DOST, DAR, DENR-EMB, and PCIC to help reassess and refine the province’s strategies for swine production, disease management, market access, and industry sustainability.
As a premier agricultural institution in the Bicol Region, CBSUA’s presence ensured that research-driven recommendations—particularly on swine production systems, biosecurity practices, and capacity-building—were incorporated into the updated investment plan.
During the consultation, stakeholders discussed critical challenges affecting the value chain, such as limited piglet supply due to ASF, inadequate access to credit, and the weak bargaining power of backyard raisers. Proposed interventions included establishing multiplier and breeder farms, enhancing ASF prevention efforts, capacitating barangay biosecurity officers, and developing buying centers and auction markets.
The outputs of the activity will undergo further review by the Provincial Core Planning Team before the updated Camarines Sur Swine PCIP is submitted for endorsement to the Provincial Development Council in early 2025.
