COCONUt farmers are being are being urged to tend to sheeps as an alternative.

Agriculture Undersecretary Deogracias Victor Savellano said that they are targeting to establish a domestic sheep-raising industry.

They will do this while coinciding with the continued supplemental income of the often meager income of coconut farmers.

Savellano likewise said that by raising small ruminants -- sheep, in particular -- it can serve as an attractive alternative livelihood opportunity to coconut farmers.

The coconut farmers he said are idle while waiting for their next harvest.

The DA said that this is in line with their P850-million livestock dispersal program for coconut farmers in partnership with the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA).

Meanwhile, the DA said that there is an international demand for lamb, hogget, and mutton (sheep meat) as well as wool, which local producers can potentially exploit.