MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Fruit and Vegetable Industries Inc. (PhilFruits) president Solomon D. Badoy and Dairy Confederation of the Philippines (DairyCon) national chairman Danilo V. Fausto, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to consolidate the efforts of their offices towards increasing dairy production nationwide.
PhilFruits, the corporate arm of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), brings to the table the different agrarian reform beneficiaries and cooperatives of the DAR, who will serve as the recipients of the various programs and technical support that the DairyCon will provide to increase the dairy production.
The MOU includes the purchase and dispersal of livestock t o individual agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) as well as provisions for training and community programs that will enhance the skills and capabilities of the ARBs in maximizing the utilization of their current livestock.
Fausto said the national daily production of milk in the country is roughly about 15 percent of the total milk requirement of the industry and with the entry of the more than 3,000 agrarian reform cooperatives of the DAR, this scenario will surely change. Considering that dairy is a P150-billion industry, this is a move in the right direction for the benefit of the farmers, according to Fausto.
Badoy expressed optimism that the programs of DairyCon will increase farmer’s farm utilization and provide them with alternative income sources between planting seasons. He said PhilFruits and DairyCon will start with providing artificial insemination and genetic improvement materials for existing livestock of the ARBs.
Also present during the signing ceremony were Nathaniel A. Campo, manager, operations and planning of PhilFruits, executive director Rowena Bautista of DairyCon and PhilFruits consultant Rodrigo P. Santos.