“The secret in life is diligence and skills. You are our hope to improve our agriculture industry, and I’m here to teach small farmers to make their lives better,” said Sen. Cynthia A. Villar, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, during the opening program of the Training on Dairy Buffalo Production and Management at the Villar SIPAG Farm School, Bacoor, Cavite, held on July 16, 2024.
Sen. Villar highlighted her concerns about locally produced milk at 1%, and dependence on the 99% imported milk supply. This not only affects local enterprises and agricultural sustainability but also malnutrition among Filipino children.
She emphasized that through the Accelerating Livelihood and Assets Buildup (ALAB Karbawan) project, carapreneurs will be equipped to boost locally produced carabao milk.
Moreover, the project will support carapreneurs who will serve as milk suppliers for the Department of Education- (DepEd) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-led milk feeding program under RA 11037, also known as the “Masustansiyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act,” addressing national concerns on malnutrition and sustainability.
The ALAB Karbawan project, which was inspired by models from India and Pagadian City, was officially launched in 2019 to boost carabao-based enterprises in the country, aiming to provide additional income and generate livelihood opportunities for farmers (as carapreneurs) through the province-wide Carabao-based Business Improvement Network (CBIN) and Coconut-Carabao Development Project (CCDP). Through the years, the project has been implemented across 61 provinces.
This initiative is under the leadership of Senator Villar and is funded by the DA-Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) CALABARZON, and the DA-Philippine Coconut Authority. The training is a joint effort of the DA-Philippine Carabao Center at the University of the Philippines Los Baños (DA-PCC at UPLB), together with DA-ATI CALABARZON, Villar Social Institute for Poverty Alleviation and Governance (SIPAG) Farm School, and DA-PCA, aimed at equipping and empowering farmers with essential skills and knowledge in dairy buffalo management and production practices, including nutrition and animal health management practices. As part of the training program, the farmer-trainees will visit The Rosario Livestock and Agriculture Farming Cooperative (TRLAFCO), recognized as the Livestock and Aquaculture Philippines Outstanding Livestock Cooperative 2024 and Outstanding Dairy Buffalo Farmer Cooperative for two consecutive years during the National Carabao Conference, to gain insights from seasoned players in the local dairy industry.
Dr. Caro B. Salces, DA-PCC deputy executive director, expressed his gratitude to Sen. Villar, whom he described as a maternal figure, for her unwavering support of all the agencies that are collaborating to capacitate carapreneurs towards achieving the goal of a prosperous and sustainable agriculture.
Dr. Rolando V. Maningas, DA-ATI CALABARZON Training Center Superintendent II, encouraged and inspired farmers to apply their knowledge and practices in dairy buffalo production and management in their respective provinces. Participating in the three-day training are 25 farmers beneficiaries of the CCDP from Quezon, Aklan, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Biliran, Samar, Leyte, Zamboaga Sibugay, and South Cotabato.
