Two agricultural cooperatives from Maguindanao successfully completed the first batch of the Farmer-Level Training on Native Chicken Production and Management, held from May 4 to 6, 2026. Hosted at the ATI-Satellite Training Center XII within the University of Southern Mindanao Compound in Kabacan, Cotabato Province, the three-day program focused on training coconut farmers in sustainable poultry integration. By combining small-scale livestock management with traditional crop farming, the initiative helps local growers establish an alternative, year-round source of livelihood to support their main farm income.

The training modules detailed the economic and ecological benefits of integrating free-range native poultry beneath coconut canopies. Participants learned how this mixed farming model maximizes underutilized land, converts farm by-products into animal feed, and leverages poultry manure as natural fertilizer for the crops. This integrated approach improves overall resource efficiency, lowers production costs, and builds stronger climate and market resilience for smallholder farming communities.

Technical experts from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) Maguindanao—including Abdulislam S. Belongan, Saban B. Belongan, and Solaiman B. Kabasalan—led the instructional sessions. Drawing from their extensive field experiences, the resource speakers provided practical guidelines on identifying healthy parental stocks, selecting resilient native chicken breeds well-suited to local climates, and implementing biosecurity measures. The lectures focused on low-cost feeding strategies and natural health management protocols to keep production overhead minimal.

To complement the classroom discussions, the farmers participated in a field visit to the 3P Farm in the City of Kidapawan, Cotabato Province. This hands-on exposure allowed the cooperative members to evaluate commercial-scale housing setups, observe proper feeding and brooding routines, and exchange practical management notes with experienced poultry practitioners. The training concluded with a graduation ceremony highlighted by an encouraging address from Engr. Teofilo T. Jumawan, Jr., who urged the participants to immediately apply their new skills to improve household food security and drive community-led agribusiness development in Maguindanao.