A government project is on the way to enhance the productivity and sustainability of Benguet native pig, the distinct strain culturally significant and nurtured in the residents’ backyard areas in the Cordillera region.
The project, “Enhancing Productivity and Sustainability of Benguet Native Pig Production,” led by Dr. Mary Arnel D. Garcia of Benguet State University (BSU) is funded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD). It builds on the 2014 DOST-PCAARRD-funded R&D program, “Conservation, Improvement, and Profitable Utilization of the Philippine Native Pigs,” in which BSU served as one of the participating study stations. The earlier research focused on developing breeding true-to-type native pigs from Benguet using stocks maintained at the university’s Animal Genetic Resources Project.
Through this initiative, the project aims to strengthen native pig production in Benguet by developing sustainable sources of improved breeding stocks with reliable performance, encouraging greater farmer participation in native pig production, and contributing to a stable pork supply in the province and throughout the country.
As part of the effort in building Benguet native pig enterprises, the project team successfully identified five farmer cooperators who have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with their respective local government units at Atok, Buguias, and Mankayan. A training on breeding and selection of Benguet native pig was also completed wherein 18 farmers and two extension workers from the LGU participated.
According to BSU President Kenneth Laruan, Benguet native pig is culturally significant in Cordillera, particularly in cultural traditions and festival celebrations. He noted that the preferred native pig for such occasions is typically black and possesses the traditional four-legged conformation. Recognizing its cultural significance, Dr. Laruan underscored the need to preserve and sustain the native pig population in the region.
Dr. Garcia highlighted the project's latest accomplishment and contributions toward conserving and improving the Benguet native pig while promoting sustainable livelihood opportunities for local farmers. She also said that currently, there is an active involvement of native pig raisers in the project and noted their interest in increasing their current native pig stocks, reflecting the growing demand for and potential of native pig production in the region.
Dr. Synan S. Baguio, Director of the Livestock Research Division (LRD) of DOST-PCAARRD highlighted the importance of fostering a genuine partnership between PCAARRD and BSU, moving beyond the traditional relationship of funding-and-implementing agencies toward a collaborative effort to achieve common research objectives. He further stressed the need to generate meaningful economic, social, and cultural impacts from research investments and to ensure that project goals are achieved by the end of the implementation period.
During the recently concluded monitoring and evaluation visit, the LRD team visited the project's farmer beneficiaries in Atok, Benguet. The beneficiaries expressed their appreciation for being part of the initiative, which aims to expand the production of the Benguet native pig. They shared that the project has provided them with an additional source of income, complementing their existing vegetable and fruit production livelihoods.
Several beneficiaries also conveyed their interest in further expanding their native pig enterprises and inquired about the possibility of purchasing additional breeding animals from BSU. The farmers further said that the growing demand for Benguet native pigs within their communities presents significant opportunities for increased production and income generation. Their positive response highlights the project's potential to enhance rural livelihoods while supporting the conservation and sustainable development of the Benguet native pig industry.