𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐒 | 𝐈𝐭𝐢𝐤𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐒 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐎𝐀 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐈𝐈 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐜 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞

𝐂𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄𝐃 𝐈𝐍 𝐋𝐄𝐍𝐒 | 𝐈𝐭𝐢𝐤𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐀𝐒 𝐂𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐎𝐀 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐮𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐚𝐥 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐈𝐈 𝐢𝐧 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐜 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞

The Tarlac Agricultural University (TAU) conducts a Ceremonial Signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and disperses 1,800 ducklings to the beneficiaries from Mayantoc, Camiling, Santa Ignacia, and Anao under Batch 2 of its Itik-Pinas (Mallard Duck) Production Program, in rites held on September 2, 2026, at the TAU-Farmers' Training Center.

Dr. Edmar N. Franquera, the Vice President for Research, Extension and Training (VPR-RET), delivered a message on behalf of the University President; Dr. Silverio Ramon DC. Salunson, reaffirming the university's commitment to extending its agricultural expertise to partner communities. Dr. Agnes C. Perey, Director of Extension and Training, likewise addressed the beneficiaries, emphasizing the value of the ItikPINAS program in providing sustainable livelihood opportunities and strengthening duck production capabilities among participating households.

ItikPINAS, developed through years of government-backed breeding and selection research, is promoted as a genetically improved duck line offering better returns than traditional breeds. The breed can produce around 255 to 265 eggs per year, or up to 55 more eggs annually than common ducks, giving farmers better productivity and more reliable output. Beneficiaries are typically introduced to a range of enterprise opportunities built around the breed, including fresh egg production, balut-making, duckling production, and processed duck products, opening additional income streams beyond raising ducks alone. 

The Batch II rollout builds on TAU's earlier training initiatives under the program. Ahead of the dispersal activities, the university had conducted hands-on instruction for farmer-participants, including field visits to established ItikPINAS farms, to prepare beneficiaries for adopting the technology in their own communities. Officials said the program forms part of TAU's broader extension mandate to translate agricultural research into direct, measurable benefits for local farming households, with the newly dispersed ducklings expected to help beneficiaries in the four municipalities build sustainable and profitable duck-raising livelihoods.

#SmartTAU #GreenandGlobal #ItikPINAS #Batch2 #SDG1 #SDG2 #SDG8 #SDG9

Text | Johndel G. Dela Cruz [Information Unit]

Photos and Coordination  | Joshua Adriel S. Villanueva [Department of Extension and Training]

 and Graphics | Carol Jane B. Caragay [Information Unit]