An International Conference on Carabao-based Enterprise Development (CBED), expected to be attended by about 200 participants from the Philippines and other Asian countries, is set to be held at the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC), National Headquarters, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija on October 26-27, 2017.
The event is organized by the PCC and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Studies and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA).
It is meant to boost efforts in developing the carabao industry toward food and nutrition security and livelihood development in the country and some member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The CBED stakeholders will exchange during the conference scientific and technological knowledge and best practices on buffalo-based enterprise development, discuss government policies, regulations, support facilities and logistics that are vital in the development of carabao-based dairy enterprises; and, explore mutually beneficial partnerships, collaboration and cooperation in relevant research and development and initiatives, the organizers said.
Senator Cynthia Villar, Chair of the Committees on Agriculture and Food and Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, is keynote speaker during the opening program on October 26.
The plenary sessions will start after the opening ceremonies.
Scientists and experts from the Philippines, India, Thailand and Laos will present their respective topics during the two-day event.
In the first plenary session, institutional perspective on CBED will be tackled. Dr. Libertado Cruz, former Executive Director and Technical Adviser of PCC will discuss “Carabao-based Enterprise Development: from Theory to Practice”; Mr. Sriram Singh, Executive Director of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) Dairy Services in India will share the “History and Lessons from India’s National Dairy Development Board”; Dr. Avnish Kumar, Principal Scientist of the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources (NBAGR) in India will discuss “Application of Information Technology in Field Survey and Dairy Buffalo Recording System”.
Perspective from the private sector in Asia will be discussed during the second plenary session. Mr. Ram Mohan Rao, Senior General Manager of the Mother Dairy Fruit and Vegetable Pvt. Ltd. in Delhi, India will discuss “Innovative Practices and Products from Mother Dairy”. Ms. Susie Martin, CEO and Director of Sales and Marketing in Laos Buffalo Dairy, and Ms. Chairinee Chaiyochlarb of Murrah Farm in Thailand, will also share their experiences in enterprise development.
In the third plenary session, the continuation of discussions from the private sector’s perspective will be carried out, featuring speakers from the Philippines. Mr. Mike Mercado, owner of Mr. Moo’s Milk Planet Co will discuss “Mr. Moo: Sustaining Cooperative Gains through Innovative Partnerships” while Mr. Danilo Fausto, proprietor of the DVF Farm, Inc. will present “The DVF Gatas ng Kalabaw Experience in Value-adding and Mainstreaming Products in the Market”.
Topics on “Mainstreaming CBED in the Philippines and ASEAN” will be discussed during the final plenary session on the second day of the event. Dr. Flordeliza Lantican, SEARCA Value Chain Analysis Project Team Leader will tackle “Strengthening and Enhancing Competitiveness of CBED through Sustainable Value Chains. Dr. Eric Palacpac, Chief of the PCC’s Knowledge Management Division, on the other hand, will discuss “The Science of Delivery: Exploring Dynamics between Technical and Local Knowledge within Delivery Systems for CBED”.
The event will be concluded with a tour of dairy facilities and dairy farms at PCC and nearby areas.
