With the integration of Muscovy duck production in the rice farming system in Nueva Vizcaya, farmers improved their income as demand for duck meat continuously increased. 

This was revealed by DA-Nueva Vizcaya Experimental Station (DA-NVES) senior science research specialist Salvador Bulda during a short visit of DA-BAR officials led by assistant director for Programs Joell H. Lales on 20-21 September 2022 in its Bagabag station. 

Bulda added that the production and processing of Muscovy ducks are now one of the main sources of livelihood by farmers in their province as processed duck meat products like Pato-Chon and Pato-Tim are in demand in Nueva Vizcaya. 

"Our farmer cooperatives are already supplying 50 heads of dressed Muscovy duck weekly to the local groceries. Binigay namin sa kanila ang technology pero nakaalalay pa din kami," said Bulda. 

Muscovy ducks of DA-NVES are considered to be a good alternative source of protein as it gives 33% of the required daily intake of protein per serving. 

DA-NVES capacitated 200 farmers on fermented feed technology (Golden apple snail and azolla) for the Muscovy duck. 

For a starter stock, farmers were given 1 drake and 5 layers, then 1 bag of rice bran per farmer for the first four months. Other interventions were: commercial starter feed for chicks good for 14 days, two fermentation containers per farmer, 5 kg of molasses per farmer for the first four months and trichantera planting materials. 

The integration of Muscovy duck production to the rice farming systems ensures the availability, accessibility, and affordability of duck meat and additional income for the 200 rice farmers of Nueva Vizcaya. 

As of June 2022, about 1,200 breeder stock were already distributed to 200 farmers with significant findings of 62% hatchability rate and 74% survival rate. 

They also distributed 800 bags of rice bran, 400 pieces of fermentation container, 4,000 kg of Molasses, 4000 cuttings of Tricanthera, 2 units of multi-purpose hammer mill, and roasting and plucker machines. 

For duck meat product development, seven farmers cooperatives and associations (FCAs) were capacitated while two FCAs were already awarded with License and Marketing Agreement. 

Assistant director Lales encouraged DA-NVES to focus on the production and processing of Muscovy ducks because it has a wide market in Nueva Vizcaya groceries. 

“You should focus on promoting the consumption of ducks, because if more farmers will grow ducks, consumer preference for ducks as a good alternative source of protein will increase, thus giving more meat options for the consuming public aside from the traditional chicken and pork,” he added. 

Lales also took the time to discuss the new directions of the bureau to DA-NVES OIC-chief Arsenio Apostol Jr. which is focusing more on scaling and technology transfer and achieving outcomes and impacts from the various technologies harvested through the various DA-BAR funded research. (### Maria Ruby G. Lumongsod)