With collective efforts and quality production combined, a bright future awaits! For the Negros Oriental hog farmers, this is especially true.

In the previous years, they used to complain of unfavorable selling prices of hogs and of inefficient pricing system for feeds. Negros Oriental Governor George P. Arnaiz suggested that they organize themselves to collectively bring their issues to agencies concerned.

This gave birth to the Negros Oriental Hog Raisers and Breeders Association in July 2001, initially with 20 members who were then required to raise at least two hogs.

The cooperative was accredited by the Cooperative Development Administration in 2004. It later became the Negros Oriental Hog Raisers and Breeders Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Inc. (NOHRBMC) and is currently affiliated with the National Federation of Hog Farmers, Inc. The 57 active members at present from throughout the province agreed to invest in a meat shop as one of the cooperative’s business undertakings.

In an attempt to address their biggest concern of unfavorable selling prices, the cooperative met with prominent hog buyers in Dumaguete City. From that meeting, both parties agreed that good prices will be given to pork of desired quality, specifically those from hogs with back fat of less than 1 in thick (although they could not agree on a fair market price).

From there, the solution became more apparent. Good quality pork can be achieved through improved genetics. NOHRBMC Chairman of the Board, Ms. Roderica B. Tolomia shared this to the cooperative members.

NOHRBMC then launched the Piglet Dispersal Project with the main goal of improving hog genetics in the province and eventually increase the farmers’ income.

To support the implementation of the project, NOHRBMC held the Hog Raising and Management Seminar last 16 July 2006 at Plaza Ma. Luisa, Dumaguete City.

At the seminar, Dr. Antonio Mutia, Provincial Veterinarian talked on the Overview of Hog Management from Breeding to Market. Ms. Tolomia facilitated the Values Orientation seminar, focusing the on personal, cultural, social and work values in hog raising business.

The seminar also featured a lecture on farm bookkeeping presented by Mr. Romil Bansuelo. These topics were chosen to ensure that the identified beneficiaries would be guided towards the attainment of the goals set for the sustainability of the project.

With all the positive achievements of the cooperative, indeed, “if we come up with the quality volume production required by the local hog buyers and the pork industries in Cebu and Manila, a bright future awaits us!” Ms. Tolomia enthused. (Roderica Tolomia, NOHRBMC, CV-CIRRD)