DA to boost dairy production

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for the increase of dairy production, which has allowed cooperatives to generate billions of pesos in revenues.

In a recent forum, DA assistant secretary for operations Arnel de Mesa said the sector should keep an eye in growth areas such as dairy production.

“It does not only respond to call for food security but also for the fight against rampant malnutrition in our children. It has so much untapped potential,” he said.

Dairy is the main ingredient in national school feeding programs.

Cooperatives assisted by Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) has generated nearly P2 billion in revenues from the milk feeding program since 2019.

The program generated P1.9 billion in gross revenue from 45 assisted cooperatives nationwide from its inception in 2019 to the first quarter of 2022, PCC milk feeding coordinator Joel Cabading said during the agency’s recent consultation in Nueva Ecija.

The consultation was participated in by officials and employees of the Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and PCC and some partner-carapreneurs.

Bantog Samahang Nayon Multipurpose Cooperative (BSNMPC) chairperson Rolly Mateo said their income from the milk feeding program enabled them to purchase vehicles for the delivery of milk, a packaging machine, a baking facility, and six hectares of farmland. It also created employment opportunities as they hired 116 workers for the venture.

Meanwhile, Nueva Ecija Federation of Dairy Carabao Cooperatives (NEFEDCCO) general manager Janice Domingo said the program had helped their federation’s assets increase from P8 million in 2018 to P28 million in 2021.

The program also provided jobs to 200 people in their community and with the income they earned, they were able to renovate their office to a three-story building.

Domingo said the program helped them bounce back as they were ensnared in financial distress before they ventured into the feeding program.