The Department of Land Reform, University of Southern Mindanao-Small Ruminants Artificial Insemination Center, and Batanes local government will embark on a small ruminants multiplier and commercial farms project to upgrade the breed of goat and sheep by applying appropriate breed technology.

The project is designed to operate the commercial livestock production of agrarian reform communities in the municipalities of Basco, Mahatao, Ivana, and Uyugan on Batan Island, including the municipalities of Sabtang and Itbayat.

Land Reform Secretary Rene C. Villa said the project for the island-province will be funded by the World Bank through the agrarian reform community development project-phase 2.

The Batanes project is focused on small farming households, cooperatives, and local government unit farm stations to become commercial multiplier farms in the production/breeding of goat and sheep.

Also, a memorandum of agreement is up for signing by the officials of the department, provincial government and University of the Southern Mindanao to implement the project in Batanes.

The World Bank and Land Reform department will provide funding for the training component, hire a full-time artificial insemination technician, and coordinate the establishment of the artificial insemination center.

The university will extend skills training on technology transfer, specifically knowledge on artificial insemination.

The provincial veterinary office will provide artificial insemination equipment, while the Department of Agriculture will provide the area and facilities for the center and extend technical services.

Mr. Villa said the project is also implemented in 80 agrarian reform communities nationwide for four years starting January 2003, with the project components of community development and capacity building, agriculture and enterprise development, support to rural finance, and rural infrastructure.

Agrarian reform communities are groups of barangays with farmer-beneficiaries under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.