To enhance the dairy production of the local farmers in Namabbalan Norte, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan, the DA-Philippine Carabao Center at Cagayan State University (DA-PCC at CSU) conducted a two-day live-out Social Preparation Training (SPT) at DA-PCC at CSU’s Conference Hall, Namabbalan Norte, Tuguegarao City on June 10-11, 2023.
This comprehensive training assessed the capacity of the cooperatives on policy-making, imparting knowledge on project management and implementation through technical know-how and sharing moral values.
The training is part of the Carabao-Based Enterprise Development (CBED) program, a flagship initiative of the DA-PCC that aims to provide comprehensive support to farmers, from training to market access, to ensure the sustainability and profitability of carabao-based enterprises and instill hope and optimism in the dairy industry’s stakeholders.
Dr. Rovina Piñera, center director of DA-PCC at CSU, shared that the training will not only enhance the skills of the farmers in the barangay but also empower them to take charge of their dairy production. This, in turn, will lead to a substantial boost in the province’s overall dairy or milk production of carabaos.
“We need to train more individuals or farmers to provide, sustain, and produce more milk for the public. This empowerment of the farmers is a testament to their resilience and dedication to their craft, and it’s a source of pride for the community,” Dr. Piñera said.
Moreover, the DA-PCC still aims to accelerate the increase of local dairy stocks and milk production, especially in Namabbalan. The Integrated Farmers’ Cooperative (IFC), a cooperative formed in 1996, has been engaged in dairy production with the DA-PCC at CSU. It has been operating its economic activity focusing on the products from carabao’s milk and cattle’s milk, particularly in the area. At present, a total of 70 active IFC farmer-members in Namabbalan are participating in producing good-quality dairy stocks.
The two-day live-out training provided a platform for the farmers to enhance their skills in conserving, propagating, and promoting the carabao as a multipurpose commodity, but it also opened up new livelihood opportunities for the local dairy farmers and the local industry. The training’s potential to boost the local economy and significantly improve the quality of life for the farmers and the community is a beacon of hope, making it a crucial step towards the sustainable development of the dairy industry in Namabbalan.
