Native animals..., my wealth, my pride. This is the official slogan and theme of the forthcoming international meeting “Utilization of native animals for building rural enterprise in warm climate zone” to be held at the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) in the Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija on July 19─23.
Sponsored by the Food and Fertilizer Technology Center for the Asian and Pacific Regions (FFTC-ASPAC), PCARRD, and PCC, the meeting gives due recognition to the socioeconomic importance of native animals aside from being considered part of a country’s national heritage and treasure.
Having been subjected to a long process of natural selection, native animals are known for their tolerance to higher environmental temperatures. With the global concern on climate change, the potentials of domesticated native animals as alternative livelihood to small and rural farmers and as sources of specialty products for niche markets are now being considered. Thus, the meeting hopes to promote technologies and strategies on sustainable production and profitable utilization of native domesticated animals, which include chicken, cattle, buffalo, and pigs.
Technologies and experiences that have been generated from different participating countries, such as Japan, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Thailand, will also be shared. Specifically, the meeting seeks to collect and organize native animal production and utilization technologies and strategies that are proven effective. Further, the activity aims to initiate strategic and functional alliances between researchers and development workers in the region on sustainable production and profitable utilization of native animals.
Leading the international conference are the heads of the sponsoring institutions: FFTC-ASPAC Director Jen-Chyuan Lee, PCARRD Executive Director Patricio S. Faylon, and PCC Executive Director Libertado C. Cruz.