Determined to carry out and support the industrialization goal of the government by strengthening agribusiness opportunities in the region, Department of Agriculture – Ilocos Region, through its Pangasinan Research & Experiment Center (PREC) based in Poblacion, Sual Pangasinan, is set on establishing its own agribusiness incubation hub that would showcase science-based technologies in agriculture.
A project worth Php234.7 million under the “Strengthening the Agro-Industrial Incubation Platform in Region 1 through Crop-Livestock Diversification,” it aims to promote sustainable innovations that can be offered for adoption to farmers and fisherfolk to boost diverse agro-industries and further enhance productivity and profitability of the agri-fishery sector.
Spearheaded by the Research and Development Group of DA-RFO I with guidance from OIC- Regional Executive Director Nestor D. Domenden, the project shall engage small-hold farmers and fisherfolk on the establishment of innovative systems on goat production, native pig production, native chicken production, duck production, high-value crops production, and bamboo production, to include product development and processing thereby empowering them to become established agri-entrepreneurs.
Having its two (2) components such as the establishment of Sustainable Agriculture and Fishery Enterprise (SAFE) and the establishment of Bamboo Rural Enterprise Development (BREAD) Incubation Hubs, the project shall support the establishment of animal housing for goat, pig, duck, chicken & egg incubation facility, semen processing center, feed processing facility, bamboo center & seed processing facility, multi-purpose product development & processing facility, training/knowledge center, incubatees’ dorm and offices, information and product display center, as well as guest and staff houses.
Among the expected support and services that the project shall provide to its beneficiaries include among others the technical assistance, capability building and entrepreneurial skills enhancement, enterprise management coaching, partnership and/or linkage, product branding, labeling and marketing, product promotions, and the use of production areas, facilities, and equipment.
To formally start the establishment of the incubation hub, a groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled on Thursday, July 22, 2021 with DA Secretary William Dar and Agribusiness Corridors Chairman Cherry Marie Natividad-Caballero as among the guests.
