The DA-Philippine Carabao Center at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (DA-PCC at UPLB) collaborated with the Regional Project Coordination Office 4A (RPCO 4A) to enhance the carabao dairy industry’s market and income in Region IV-A, CALABARZON, under the DA-Philippine Rural Development Project (DA-PRDP).
RPCO 4A recently organized a business conference on dairy carabao on February 2, 2024, at Argosino Hall, DA CALABARZON, Lipa, Batangas. The event aimed to create awareness about DA-PRDP priorities and identify collaboration opportunities within the region.
The activity’s participants were DA-PCC at UPLB, Financial Agencies, Farmer Cooperatives and Associations (FCAs), and Private Agribusiness Entities (PAEs).
“Our goal is to utilize DA-PRDP to boost dairy farmer’s prosperity and income and attain significant developmental results in CALABARZON,” said RPCO 4A Deputy Project Director Engr. Redeliza Gruezo.
DA-PCC at UPLB Senior Science Research Specialist Anna Reylene J. Montes discussed the carabao dairy industry’s status in CALABARZON and DA-PCC’s value chain approach. This includes prioritizing interventions, efficient resource allocation, and promoting public-private partnerships.
Ma. Edna N. De Jesus, RPCO IVA I-PLAN component head, presented the Provincial Commodity Investment Plan (PCIP) wherein they identified the emerging regional carabao dairy industry as a beneficiary requiring interventions like land improvement, technical training, farm machinery, production support programs, market linkages, and research studies.
The program included a plenary workshop where they identified a potential subproject focusing on the establishment of a carabao dairy milk processing and marketing enterprise. The identification stemmed from their needs assessment, covering aspects of production, processing, marketing, input supply, and financial assistance.
“We will utilize the opportunities and collaborative efforts offered by the DA-PRDP for the carabao dairy industry commodities in CALABARZON,” said DA-PCC at UPLB Agricultural Center Chief IV Dr. Thelma A. Saludes while expressing her gratitude to RPCO 4A for including the carabao dairy industry.
The DA-PRDP, a World Bank-supported project, aims to establish a government platform for a modern, climate-resilient, and market-oriented agri-fishery sector through partnerships with local government units and proponent groups for key rural development programs and investments.
