The Agricultural Training Institute – Regional Training Center 02 (ATI-RTC 02) and the Department of Agriculture – Regional Field Office 02 (DA-RFO 02) recently held a specialized training focused on goat production for beneficiaries of the Livestock Economic Enterprise Development (LEED) Program "SaGoat Kita: A Poor Man’s Cow Millionaires Program," to 30 members of local farmers' organizations and 2 agricultural extension workers (AEWs), at the DA-Southern Cagayan Research Center – Annex, Solana, Cagayan, on March 25-27, 2025.

The training aimed to enhance the skills of goat raisers in areas such as breed selection, husbandry practices, nutrition, animal health care, and identifying business opportunities.

One of the highlights of the event was the opportunity for participants to attend the inauguration of the new Semen Processing Laboratory—an important milestone in the development of Cagayan Valley's livestock sector. The laboratory is expected to significantly advance the use of artificial insemination, enhancing the local goat breeding program and boosting herd productivity and livestock health.

Moreover, the training featured expert-led lectures, interactive discussions, hands-on activities, and field demonstrations with goat production experts from different experimental stations of DA-RF02, all designed to equip participants with practical skills for sustainable goat farming.

“I have learned that in raising goats, we need to consider goat breeds, feeding, and nutrition for disease prevention. This training taught me that in agriculture it doesn’t require large funds for investment, especially in goat housing. We just need to be resourceful,” Mr. Rodrigo L. Tucay, a member of Namamparan Farmers Agriculture Cooperative from Diadi, Nueva Vizcaya, shared.

In addition to the technical training, the event fostered valuable networking opportunities for farmers, AEWs, and industry experts, encouraging knowledge sharing and collaborative problem-solving.

This initiative, part of the National Livestock Program, aims to support sustainable livestock production and improve rural livelihoods by providing small-scale farmers with the tools they need to increase productivity, generate income, and meet the growing demand for high-quality goat products.

~Planning and Accreditation Section (PAS)