Halal Goat industry offers bright prospects for Philippines
Davao City (15 September) — The
Davao del Sur goat industry has to work double time in order to tap the
vast potentials presented during the Goat Industry Forum held on Sept
10 in Digos City.
The Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI) Davao del Sur provincial office, which
spearheaded the forum with support from the provincial government and
local Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) Council,
said that the goat industry really promises bright prospects for the
province.
“Based on the
presentations of our resource persons, goat-raising is an industry
which can give great economic benefits to the local farmers especially
that one speaker has already given his commitment to buy their
produce,” DTI-Davao del Sur provincial director Engr. Edwin O.
Banquerigo said.
Lisa’s Tender and
Lean Meats vice president for operations Frans B. Vanbesien said that
Robinson’s Supermarket alone is asking him to ship out goat meat to its
branch in Iloilo.
“If you have the
products, we will always be buying. People (addressing the
participants), I’m looking at this as a long term business. I don’t
want this to be just a one-shot deal. That’s why, I want you to supply
Lisa’s Meats with goat meat on a regular basis,” Vanbesien said.
According to the
senior agriculturist of the Department of Agriculture (DA) 11-Livestock
Division Ernesto P. Cusilit, Region 11 ranked fifth in goat production
performance in 2008. Majority of which was from Davao del Sur.
Based on their record, Region 6 was on the top rank last year. It was followed (in correct order) by Regions 7, 1, and 4.
Cusilit said that
although Region 11 was only at the fifth notch, it still managed to
record a slight increase of at least one percent, as compared to its
2007 level.
“From 361,148 heads
in 2007, it reached 368,062 in 2008. Bisan gamay lang, naa gihapo’y
pag-usbaw nga nakuha. Naghinaut ko nga gikan niining Goat Industry
Forum, mas mudako pa ang atong produksyon (Although the increase was
just minimal, what’s important is we were still able to record an
increase. I hope that from this Goat Industry Forum, we will be
motivated to further improve our production performance),” Cusilit
said.
To date, chevon is sold in local markets at P220 per kilogram while goat’s head and feet are at P175 per kilogram.
With the local goat
industry’s potentials, Cusilit said, DA 11already installed various
programs. He cited the integration of artificial insemination into the
entire goat development program of the agency as among these
initiatives.
Meanwhile, DTI 11
chief for Trade and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development
Division (TMSMEDD) Rosemarie N. Enginco said while increasing goat
production, players must also be aware of the Halal certification
policies and procedures especially that majority of the Halal market
are Muslims and their preferred meat is chevon (goat meat).
Halal means permitted, lawful, or acceptable in Arabic.
“We really have to
know the Halal standards kasi strict masyado ang Halal. And Halal
doesn’t only refer to food. Cosmetics can be Halal-certified as well,”
Enginco explained.
In adopting Halal, both backward and forward procedures must be considered.
“For example, in
perfume products, virgin coconut oil (VCO) is among the additives.
Dapat ang coconut na pinanggalingan ng VCO ay nag-conform na sa Halal
requirements. Dapat ay organically-grown ang niyog na gagamitin sa VCO
na para sa perfume. Ganyan ka-strict ang Halal standards kaya dapat
talaga ay pinag-aaralan ng maigi,” she said.
The global Halal
trade range from US$150 billion to US$580 billion. The Muslim consumers
worldwide are estimated to be at 1.6 to 1.8 billion based in almost 140
countries.
