Dairy farmers now have wider access to best practices and technologies in carabao dairying.
A development modality called the Farmers Livestock School on Dairy Buffalo Production (FLS-DBP) makes this possible.
FLS-DBP project leader Dr. Eric Palacpac said this innovative and creative way to help dairy farmers is no longer a promise but a mandate realized thru a PCC project.
“Several years ago, PCC experienced difficulties in spreading technologies and it took us a year to come up with this kind of project wherein dairy farmers will surely grasp the learning and enjoy as well because this is a participatory-type of class, there are a lot of exciting activities,” Dr. Palacpac said.
The said project which started on May 13 at San Jose City hall will run for 34 weeks every Friday with accredited FLS-DBP facilitators to guide the participants along the course.
PCC acting executive director Dr. Arnel del Barrio, and deputy executive director Dr. Felomino Mamuad both gave inspirational messages about how PCC was able to surpass challenges on dairy buffalo production in the past.
“Change starts within ourselves,” Dr. Mamuad told PCC partner-cooperatives who will participate in 1st FLS-DBP.
“Discipline is key to achieving high milk production with great quality,” he added.
The first cluster of participating cooperatives includes San Jose City’s Eastern Primary Multi-Purpose Cooperative (EPMPC) and Simula ng Panibagong Bukas Cooperative (SIPBUCO).
Modules to be used for the training were developed by Dr. Ester Flores, head of PCC Genomics and Informatics; Dr. Danilo Aquino, PCC at CLSU director; Dr. Edwin Atabay, scientist I; Mina Abella, national coordinator for product development; Wilma del Rosario, National Impact Zone coordinator; Dr. Cyril Baltazar, national gene pool coordinator; Ma. Theresa Sawit, head of socio economic and policy research; and Estella Valiente, development officer.
Sawit, Chairman Melchor Correa and Eliseo Mislang of EPMPC, will serve as facilitators.
According to Dr. Palacpac, the idea of FLS was an adopted version of the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Resources Research and Development’s (PCCARD) project on strengthening the goat industry thru pest management.
PCC will launch FLS-DBP in Guimba, Nueva Ecija on May 20 and in Ilocos Norte on June.
