HOW COULD FARMERS MAKE THEIR OWN FEEDS?

HOW COULD FARMERS MAKE THEIR OWN FEEDS?

Perhaps unknown to many Filipinos, a large portion of our animal feed ingredients—such as fish meal, soybean meal, and meat and bone meal—are imported. That means our food security is tied not only to our farms, but to global supply chains.

And what happens when those supply chains are disrupted? The answer is simple and frightening: no feed, no livestock; no livestock, no food.

This is why I believe that farmers must be empowered to produce their own feeds using local resources. Not as a luxury—but as a necessity.

A balanced animal feed has four basic components: energy, protein, vitamins and minerals, and roughage.

For energy, we already have abundant local options: corn, cassava, sorghum, rice bran, and even root crops like sweet potato. These are cheaper and more accessible than imported grains.

For protein—the most critical and expensive component—we must be more creative. Instead of relying heavily on imported soybean meal or fish meal, we can use copra meal (a by-product of coconut), ipil-ipil leaves, madre de cacao, azolla, and other legumes.

But perhaps the most promising alternative is insects.

Yes, insects—particularly the Black Soldier Fly.

Black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) contain 40% to 50% protein and can be produced by feeding them organic waste such as food scraps or manure. In effect, farmers can convert waste into high-quality feed. Unlike ordinary maggots, BSFL are safer, easier to manage, and even provide antimicrobial benefits due to their lauric acid content.

This means that BSFL can partially or even fully replace fish meal and meat and bone meal—two of our most imported and expensive inputs.

Other insects like mealworms and housefly maggots can also be used, although they come with varying levels of efficiency and safety. Still, the message is clear: protein does not have to come from imports.

For vitamins and minerals, we can use limestone, salt, crushed oyster shells, and even indigenous plant sources. For roughage, we already have grasses, crop residues, and forage crops like napier and corn stover.

The challenge now is not availability—it is knowledge.

How do we teach farmers to formulate their own feeds?

Simple tools like the Pearson Square method can help farmers balance protein levels. Training programs can demonstrate feed mixing, fermentation, and storage techniques. Even basic practices like drying and grinding can significantly improve feed quality.

This is where the Department of Agriculture and the Agricultural Training Institute must step in. Farmers do not need complicated theories—they need practical, hands-on training that they can apply immediately.

At the same time, the government must track supply gaps. Which feed ingredients are we importing the most? Which local substitutes are viable? Without data, we are simply guessing.

We should also encourage cooperatives to establish small-scale feed mills. Instead of each farmer working alone, communities can pool resources, produce feeds in bulk, and reduce costs further.

Let us not forget aquaculture. If it is true that farmed fish production already exceeds our wild catch, then feed security becomes even more critical. Fish feeds rely heavily on imported fish meal—but BSFL and plant-based proteins can change that equation.

In the end, making our own feeds is not just about saving money. It is about survival.

If we can produce our own feed inputs locally, we insulate ourselves from global shocks. We empower our farmers. We strengthen our food system.

The question is no longer whether we can do it.

The question is: why have we not done it sooner?

RAMON IKE V. SENERES

www.facebook.com/ike.seneres iseneres@yahoo.com senseneres.blogspot.com 09088877282/06-04-2027