To help significantly increase and develop the Philippines’ dairy industry, which would build a healthy nation further by making milk affordable and accessible to Filipinos, Senator Cynthia Villar will open a Dairy School inside the Villar Farm School compound in its Bacoor-Las Pinas site.
Villar, chairperson of the Senate committee on agriculture and food, noted the soon-to-rise Dairy School will offer free carabao and dairy training programs to all farmers and industry stakeholders.
“This would stimulate milk production and dairying in cooperation with the Philippine Carabao Center and the National Dairy Authority,” said Villar.
The senator said the construction of Dairy Farm School, which is funded by the Villar SIPAG Foundation, is underway.
A staunch advocate of agriculture, Villar said the school will encourage farmers to embark on dairy production, which can be another source of income for them. Once developed, she said the industry will provide livelihood opportunities to farming communities.
“And if we are to source our fresh milk and fresh milk-based products from local dairy farmers and cooperatives, we are creating markets, which, if sustained, will eventually develop and boost our local dairy industry,” Villar pointed out.
She said the dairy school would afford Filipino farmers access to better technologies and production strategies through community organization, marketing of carabao-based products, and creating a demand for these milk commodities.
“We intend to equip farmers in dairy production with knowledge and information on modern technology so they can produce more and earn more,” stressed Villar.
“These would help address the low quality and low production problems, normally associated with small-hold dairy farming and help farmers access the commercial market,” the senator said.
As of January 2021, Villar said the total carabao inventory in the country was estimated at 2.84 million heads. This is 0.9 percent lower than the 2.87 million heads in the same period in 2020, she lamented.
Due to this poor production, Villar said the Philippines has been importing 99 percent of its milk demand. With this situation, Villar said Filipinos, especially children, were being deprived of drinking milk, an excellent source of many nutrients.
She said milk is essential to the Filipino diet to ensure the growth and development of our children. Studies show that the utilization of the carabao’s milk for household consumption appears to be feasible and promising.
“But with our dependence on imported milk, poor families cannot afford to give their children milk that will greatly help in their proper nutrition and academic performance in school,” said Villar, adding that foreign dairy is “too expensive for the masses.”
The senator believes the country can still achieve sustainability in dairy production, but needs to ramp up and encourage farmers to do dairy, and for them to access the assistance given by the Philippine dairy agencies and other sectors.