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An inception meeting-workshop
between LRD-PCARRD and the implementers
were held to discuss the project’s concept,
methodology, expected outputs, and other
pertinent issues. Concerns such as criteria for
site and farmer selection, data to be gathered
for site characterization, data/information to be
gathered during regular monitoring activities,
roles/responsibilities of project partners, etc.
were discussed and firmed up.
Selection of project sites
Prior to project site selection, secondary
data in terms of goat population and largest
goat-producing municipalities in Cagayan Valley
were gathered from the Provincial Veterinary
Office of the Isabela Provincial Government.
On the basis of the secondary data,
Echague and Alicia Isabela were the top two
municipalities with the highest concentration
of goat population. Field validation was
undertaken to validate the secondary data
gathered and to determine the villages which
will serve as focal and control sites. Echague
Isabela was selected as the project focal sites
while, Alicia Isabela was identified to serve as
the control site. Meeting with the officers of
Echague Goat Raisers/Producers Association
was also done for possible collaboration.
The selection of project sites/focal
villages was based on the following general/
indicative criteria: (a) high goat density, (b)
goat production recognized as economically
important, (c) accessibility, (d) high radiation
effect, (e) presence of support system, among
others. The final site selection criteria used by
all implementers was decided on the project’s
inception meeting-workshop.
Selection of farmer-partners
The farmer-partners were selected based on
the following criteria:
a. Willingness to participate in the project
J.N. Nayga, et. al
b. Smallholders with at least 5-doe level
goats per family
c. Positive receptivity to innovative
technologies/development projects
d. Have some knowledge and
understanding of feeds, animal
performance, production/management
systems, e.g. deworming, housing,
etc.
e. Enterprising
Characterization of focal sites, farm
households, and selected farmer-partners
Using structured questionnaires, the
focal sites, farm household, and selected
farmer-partners were characterized. The
characterization activity was conducted to:
(a) generate baseline information/data for
future impact assessment studies; (b) identify
constraints in the system being practiced,
as well as define researchable issues; and
(c) provide basis in the selection of farmerpartners.
The site selection focused on
biophysical, socioeconomic, and institutional
characteristics. The biophysical characteristics
determined were climate, vegetation, soil type,
topography, length of growing period, cropping
pattern, among others.
The socioeconomic data gathered were
average farm size, tenure status, per capita
income, average household size, average age
and educational level, contribution of livestock
to household income, access to market
indicators, among others.
On institutional characteristics, data/
information collected were on access to R&D
institutions engaged in livestock R&D and R&D
facilities, access to credit, farmers’ groups/
cooperatives, marketing infrastructures,
presence of product processing facilities,
among others. On the characterization of the
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