A joint project of the Western Mindanao State University (WMSU) and San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm (SRPPF) has confirmed the potential of ZamPen native chicken in providing sustainable livelihood to rural communities in Zamboanga Peninsula.
Based on the project, ZamPen native chicken is more profitable by 26% on hardened chicks and 86% on slaughtered chicken. Moreover, ZamPen has 80% fertility and hatchability, as well as 90% survival rate.
The chicken was supplemented with 50% local feeds produced by the inmates of the San Ramon Prison and Penal Farm (SRPPF) in Zamboanga City.
ZamPen or Zamboanga Peninsula native chicken is a product of purification process of ‘Joloano’ chicken, which is primarily cared for in the area. The purification resulted in higher production performance in terms of age and weight, age at point of lay, eggs produced per hen, average egg weight, hatchability, plumage uniformity, and survival rate of breeder chickens.
Under the project, 30 qualified inmates under minimum security were trained and employed in the farm. These inmates are scheduled to be released within two years.
SRPPF provided an area spanning 5,000 sq.m for the project. A total of 150 head of hardened chicks were provided from the native chicken station from WMSU College of Agriculture (WMSU-CA).
The inmates planted leafy vegetables to provide additional feeds for the flocks.
The production performance of ZamPen native chicken cared for by SRPPF and those cared by WMSU-CA were compared. In terms of viable day-old chicks, that of SRPPF is higher by 5.66% at 68.18% while WMSU-CA was at 62.52%. The average weight for day-old and 21-days-old chick is higher in SRPPF by 20% and 14%, respectively.
SRPPF recorded a higher net income for slaughtered chicken with a net profit of ₱143.78 per head, higher than WMSU-CA, which recorded a net profit of ₱77.28 per head. The higher income was credited to the feeding system adopted by the inmates, which resulted in higher weight gain. Commercial feeds were minimized with the use of homegrown vegetables and kitchen leftovers. The project recorded a total sale of ₱194,745 for breeder chicks and meat.
A total of 15 inmates who participated in the project and who have already served their sentence were able to bring home five hens and one rooster each to start a native chicken backyard farm.
The project, Evaluation of the Sustainability and Profitability of ZAMPEN Native Chicken Production as a Source of Livelihood in Rural Communities, is one of the three finalists in the National Symposium on Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Development (NSAARRD) development category. The project was led by Dr. Teresita A. Narvaez, Consortium Director of the Western Mindanao Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (WESMAARRDEC) and Mr. Wilfredo Castillo, SRPPF Administrative Aide.
NSAARRD is being spearheaded by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD).
PCAARRD will celebrate its seventh year anniversary on June 22, 2018 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), Pasay City, where it will recognize the effort of its partners through NSAARRD.