The Department of Agriculture – Philippine Rural Development Project Regional Project Coordination Office Calabarzon, in partnership with the DA-Philippine Carabao Center, convened dairy carabao industry key players (farmers cooperatives and associations, local government units, government agencies, technology innovators, financial institutions, and institutional buyers) for the DA-PRDP Business Conference on Dairy Carabao. This activity aims to identify salient issues and investment opportunities in the dairy carabao industry in Calabarzon and come up with potential areas for collaboration and interventions to further develop the industry and respond to pressing needs.

The DA-PCC provided value chain analysis findings to discuss the dairy carabao industry landscape. Meanwhile, the DA-PRDP 4A discussed the DA-PRDP Scale-Up planning and enterprise development processes. Participants were then asked to share their priority projects, investment areas they are interested in, and support/resources they need and can offer.

Based on the answers, the DA-PRDP 4A and the DA-PCC identified a potential subproject that may be proposed under the DA-PRDP Scale-Up, a carabao dairy milk processing and marketing enterprise. Should FCAs wish to pursue the subproject, the DA-PRDP 4A encouraged them to participate in clustering and consolidation and partner with the private sector to help solidify and sustain their enterprise. 

“Patuloy nating sulitin ang mga ganitong oportunidad upang magka-ugnay-ugnay at talakayin kung paano made-develop pa ang dairy carabao na isa sa mga champion commodities sa Calabarzon. Tungo sa pag-unlad ng industriya at pagdami ng benepisyo para sa ating farmers at consumers, bukas ang DA-PRDP na tumulong sa pagpondo ng mga proyektong magpapalawak at magpapalago pa ng produksyon, processing, at marketing ng dairy carabao products,” shared DA-PRDP 4A Deputy Project Director Engr. Redelliza Gruezo.

The dairy carabao industry key players that participated were the following: The Rosario Livestock and Agriculture Farming Cooperative , General Trias Dairy Raisers Mutipurpose Cooperative, Llano Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative, Magdalena Agriculture Cooperative, Tayabas Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative, DA-Calabarzon Livestock and Corn Programs, Regional Agriculture and Fishery Council – Calabarzon, Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (Laguna, Quezon, Cavite, & Batangas), Office of the City Agriculturist – Tayabas, Provincial Planning and Development Office (Batangas), Provincial Cooperative, Livelihood & Entrepreneurial Development Office – Batangas (PCLEDO BATANGAS), Land Bank of the Philippines, Development Bank of the Philippines, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI Batangas), and Skye Dairy. #

Should the cooperatives be interested in proposing the said potential subproject for DA-PRDP Scale-Up funding, DA PRDP 4A Business Development Officer Justin Vivas encouraged them to participate in clustering and consideration and to partner with the private sector to solidify their enterprises’ growth and improvement. (Photo by Myrelle Joy Bejasa)

Answers were immediately processed by the DA-PRDP 4A I-REAP and I-PLAN components and the PCC. From their analysis, they identified one potential subproject that may be funded under the DA-PRDP Scale-Up: a carabao dairy milk processing and marketing enterprise. (Photo by Myrelle Joy
Bejasa)

To give the participants a full picture of the dairy carabao industry, DA-PCC representative Anna Reylene Montes discussed the opportunities and constraints experienced in each segment of the dairy carabao value chain. (Photo by Myrelle Joy Bejasa)

Financial institutions such as the Development Bank of the Philippines in turn wrote down the financial programs and support they can provide should dairy carabao enterprise owners seek their assistance. (Photo by Myrelle Joy Bejasa)

DA-PRDP 4A Business Development Officer Toji Lumanog assisted participants in conveying and organizing their answers during the workshop proper of the conference. (Photo by Myrelle Joy Bejasa)

Representatives of the Llano Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative wrote down pressing issues they are experiencing and needed interventions to grow and sustain their enterprise. (Photo by Myrelle Joy Bejasa)