|
Archives
May 1-31, 2007
Securing a sturdy ground for the duck industry
by Rita T. dela Cruz
Photos courtesy of LDC
 Every time the ducks quack, it means that something or someone is bothering them. Either they are being warded off from their place or they stood on a shaky ground.
This anecdote holds true for the current situation of the duck industry in the country.
Duck, although ranked second only to chicken for egg and meat production, is also a crucial subsector of the Philippine poultry industry. It provides employment and income-generating opportunities for Filipinos, particularly those in the rural areas.
Among the avian species, duck is considered the most adaptable because it can survive under a wide range of climatic and nutritional conditions.  Duck raising is inexpensive, requires non-elaborate housing facilities, and needs very minimal space for rearing compared to chickens. Ducks are also shown to be relatively hardy, resistant to common diseases, and subsist on a variety of feeds.
Over the years, the duck industry has been hounded by various quandaries and constraints both in its production and marketing aspects. But since this industry is a local resource-based, it slowly gained its phase. Even importation seems not to be a serious threat to the domestic supply since a large portion of the demand for duck meat and eggs is still being met by current domestic production.
 However, with the recent threat of the bird flu disease with rumors and speculations of its entry into the country, the industry is once again alarmed. This threat comes with other related series of problems such as high costs and poor quality of feed materials, high variability in the quality of stocks, erratic prices of duck products, and high possibility of the entry of imported duck egg products.
With these scenarios in mind, the Duck Industry Association of the Philippines (DIAPI), together with the Australian Center for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR), the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCARRD),  Livestock Development Council (LDC), the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR), and University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) convened major stakeholders both from the government and private sectors to embark on a discussion and address issues and concerns that hound the duck industry in the Philippines. The forum was held on 31 May- 1 June 2007 in Angeles City, Pampanga, with the theme, “Philippine duck industry: Coping with the Changing Production Systems.”
Specifically, the industry forum was conducted to disseminate recent information and technologies to duck raisers, egg processors, and distributors and equip them on how to improve and increase their production. With the presence of key players from the industry, the activity aimed to discuss current problems confronting the local duck industry, particularly on the issue of bird flu and how to abate this threat.
Ultimately, it is expected that a dynamic and effective partnership is forged between and among private players with appropriate support from the government.
Topics of papers presented during the forum included 1) Status and concerns of the Philippine duck industry; 2) Prospect for duck producers in the Philippines; 3) Duck anger; 4) Raising ducks in confinement, 5) Impact of avian influenza and other health-related issues on the duck industry, 6) Feedmilling and feeding of ducks, 7) Duck breeds and breeding, 8) Product development and value adding of duck products, and 9) Presentation on the Candaba Swamp.
Presentations were followed by open forums, enjoining participants to inquire, comment, and suggest on the topics discussed. Information gathered from the discussions served as outputs for an industry resolution or position paper for submission to the DA Secretary with emphasis on the current industry situationer and what the government can do to support the duck industry.
Major discussions led to the identification of current problems confronting the local duck industry and production management options and innovative marketing strategies to ensure sustainability of the local duck industry.
Eggs are the most important products of the duck industry due to the increasing demand for duck eggs (fresh, balut, penoy, salted eggs, and century eggs).
One key issue brought up in the forum, duck producers association identified the need for government to intercede in elevating the duck industry to greater heights given that duck products such as salted eggs and balut as exotic products have immense potential in penetrating export markets. The need to consider organic production of ducks and duck products was also identified.
Although key issues, problems, and concerns were identified in the forum, stakeholders need to be always on the lookout as threats will continue to hound the duck industry unless these are immediately addressed and abated. 
May 1-31 2007 Articles:
:: BAR celebrates Farmers and Fisherfolk Month; showcases 5 commerciable R&D technologies
:: 2nd Regional Techno Forum head starts in Luzon B Cluster
:: BAR and OptiServe collaborate for ICT community-based initiatives
:: Rillo wins 2007 Gawad Saka for outstanding agricultural scientist
:: BAR links with DLSU-Manila on ITMSI program
:: SMIARC intensifies RDE for all commodities
:: BAR conducts IP awareness and training workshop
:: BAR spearheads pre-implementation meetings on ludong and abaca
:: ICT to boost DA programs and services
:: Benefits from the ‘Queen’
:: Securing a sturdy ground for the duck industry
:: BAR leads synergy meeting on sweet sorghum initiatives
|
