Effects of Climate Variability on a Livestock Value Chain: The Case of the Sorosoro Ibaba Development Cooperative Hog Business, Philippines

Sorosoro Ibaba Development Cooperative (SIDC) is one of the country’s most successful multi-purpose cooperatives which operates diverse enterprises including a hog business. Like any other agriculture-based business, the hog value chain of SIDC is vulnerable to climate variability. Th e general objective of this study is to analyze the effects of climate variability on each link and identify the business risks across the whole hog value chain of SIDC. The study used the value chain approach to identify the effects as well as the climate change adaptation strategies at all points along the SIDC hog value chain. Primary data were gathered through key informant interviews with SIDC’s general manager and other key personnel as well as the hog haulers SIDC deals with. The SIDC hog value chain consists of four major links – input, production, transport and distribution, and marketing. Each point on the value chain was assessed to be affected by climate variability. Feed ingredients such as yellow corn were not properly dried due to prolonged rains. There was an increase in disease incidence among the weanlings grown both by external and internal sources. Hog haulers claimed cases of mortality among the hogs being transported due to extreme heat during travel. Lastly, exposure to extreme heat of pork for retail resulted to meat weight loss. It was recommended, among others, that the cooperative provide a bigger storage area for raw materials at its feed mill, conduct more trainings and seminars related to climate variability adaptation and purchase an Automatic Weather Station (AWS)