News From : DagangHalal.com (15 Sep 2009)
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. 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 11 already 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,” 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.
Source: Philippine Information Agency