THE barangay of Irisan in Baguio may potentially be a producer of rabbits in the near future.
The Irisan Rabbit Farming Association (IRFA) has partnered with the barangay officials of Irisan and the office of Councilor Philian Weygan-Allan in a bid to turn the barangay into a center for commercially producing rabbits.
According to IRFA president Romnick Guibong, they intend to tap 3,000 of the barangay’s residents and have them participate in the plan to convert the barangay into a commercial rabbitry area.
According to the IRFA, the rabbit meat industry may be a viable solution to address the shortage of pork supplies in the city amid the COVID-19 pandemic and the presence of African swine fever (ASF).
IRFA Vice President Wilson Yabut also touted the benefits of an established rabbitry industry, claiming that in addition to nutritious meat, rabbits can provide furs for the production of other items, and rabbit manure, which can be used as fertilizer for farmers.
He also touted the ease of raising rabbits compared to hogs, as they have a much faster life cycle and can begin breeding within six months, with rabbits completing their gestation period and being good for harvesting within a month.
Weygan-Allan has meanwhile committed to push the city council for assistance for the rabbitry industry..
At the same time, the city is set to partner with the Department of Agriculture – Cordillera (DA-CAR) to aid the city’s livestock industry, with a P10 million memorandum of agreement between the DA-CAR and Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong waiting to be inked.
