North Cotabato goat raisers are upbeat about the prospects of the goat raising industry in the province following a meeting recently with 3-term governor and now Vice Governor Manny Piñol on the provincial government's rubber/oil palm/coconut-based small ruminants program.

"This program will not only intensify goat production in the backyard level and improve the quality of goats in the province. It will most definitely assure our goat raisers and small farm families better income," Vice Gov. Piñol said.

Under the program, pure breed Boer bucks will be distributed to goat farms with a minimum goat population of 20 heads to upgrade their goat stock. Serving as multiplier farms, they will supply the upgraded doe stocks that will be purchased by the provincial government for distribution to beneficiaries of its high value crops program.

"We need the goats as alternative source of income for our high-value crop farmers while waiting for their farm produce," Vice Gov. Piñol said.  Rubber will only become productive after 5-6 years, coconut in 5 years, and oil palm after 3 years.

News that Saudi Arabia is interested in buying goats from Mindanao for its meat requirements during the annual pilgrimage to Mecca made the program all the more exciting for local goat raisers and small farm families.

According to the Department of Agrarian, Reform Saudi Arabia wants to import goats from Mindanao to ensure a reliable and safe supply of two million goats daily during the annual season of Hajj in December. It is obligatory for a Muslim to attend the six-day festival at least once in a lifetime. Each pilgrim must offer goats as sacrifice.

Each farmer is likely to earn a monthly income of P40,000 once the deal is closed, according to Undersecretary for Special Concerns Bernie Cruz.

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