S. Cotabato mulls soybean farming to feed livestock
South Cotabato map
KORONADAL CITY—The provincial government of South Cotabato is promoting soybean farming to secure the supply of food for the province’s livestock which, in turn, underpin the livelihood of thousands of residents.
Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. said the propagation of soybean in the province would be geared toward providing the ingredient for feed meal production.
“We already produce copra meal, tiki-tiki and corn. What’s lacking is soya beans so we can produce feeds for our livestock industry, to create a cycle that will ensure food security for our livestock industry,” Tamayo explained.
Tamayo said they want to develop at least 1,000 hectares for soybean cultivation to support a possible feed meal production venture.
South Cotabato, including the highly urbanized city of General Santos, is among the major swine producers in the country.
The South Cotabato Swine Producers Association, the biggest association of commercial swine farms in the area with at least 20 members, has a combined sow population of 55,000 and produces at least 45,000 heads of hogs a month.
Based on the 2020 chicken inventory issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority, South Cotabato recorded the highest stocks at 5.68 million birds or 58.7 percent of Region 12’s total, followed by Cotabato at 27 percent (2.61 million birds), Sarangani at 7.9 percent (767,920 birds), and Sultan Kudarat at 6.4 percent (620,410 birds).
Soybean, a rich source of plant-based protein, is a major ingredient in animal feed meal formulation.
The Philippines is a net soybean importer of food and feed requirements, mainly sourcing supplies from the United States.
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