Negros Occidental Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena rated the level of competitiveness of hog raisers and local meat producers in the province nine for stabilizing its production despite the influx of imported meat and its by-products.

Decena said the province is now looking at selling its local meat produce outside Negros Occidental to expand and establish a new market.

The PVO has organized hog raisers associations and small producers to supply the meat consumption of the province, while competing with the commercial market, he said.

Local meat production is necessary to reduce the entry of imported products in the province and Negros has managed to compete with the commercial market, Decena said.

Meat shops are established in local government units, genetic improvement on high breed gilts are strengthened, and members of associations are trained on meat processing to add value on their products, he also said.

Developing the livestock industry is one of the business strategies for Negros Occidental in preparation for the 2015 zero tariff implementation of sugar and other agricultural products, he added.

Meanwhile, 18 local associations completed the training in meat processing in Bacolod City recently, AzenethDimaandal, paravet coordinator, said yesterday.

Dimaandal said the participants learned good management practices and had a hand-on demonstration on ham-making and luncheon meat- processing, which they can use in their product development and augmentation.

She said the Christmas season is coming and the demand for ham and luncheon meat is also increasing, so this is a good opportunity for small producers to sell their homemade products at much affordable prices.

The training equipped them with knowledge in basic marketing and packaging of their products, Dimaandal added. *LTG

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