MILK PRODUCTION PALALAKASIN

TARGET ng National Dairy Authority (NDA) na itaas ang milk sufficiency ng bansa sa 2.5 percent sa 2025 mula sa kasalukuyang 1 percent, at ilapit ito sa 5 percent sufficiency na may milk production na 80 million liters sa 2028.

“The Department of Agriculture, through the NDA, is hell-bent on doubling the milk sufficiency of the country by next year. While this increase may seem modest, it represents a groundbreaking achievement, the first substantial progress in dairy sufficiency in many years, if ever, occurring under the Marcos Jr. administration,” pahayag ni NDA Administrator lawyer Marcus Antonios Andaya sa kanyang mensahe sa pagbubukas ng three-day National Dairy Summit 2024 sa Iloilo Convention Center nitong Lunes.

Sa kasalukuyan, ang annual local demand para sa gatas sa bansa ay 1.9 billion liters subalit 1 percent lamang ang nagmumula sa local production.

Para makamit ang layuning ito, sinabi ni Andaya na target muna nila na dagdagan ang herd sa pamamagitan ng agresibong pag-angkat ng dairy cattle. Sa kasalukuyan ay may 18,720 animals sa milkline na nag-aambag sa 17 million milk production.

Sasanayin din nila ang mga magsasaka para mabawasan ang animal mortality at mapalawig ang productive years ng kanilang livestock.

Isang feed center na itatayo sa Iloilo ang magsisilbing pilot site para sa feed center project upang matiyak ang sapat na pagkain para sa ruminants.

“To all stakeholders, let us consider this 1 percent milk sufficiency as an opportunity instead of an obstacle to improving the Philippine dairy industry. The opportunity is enormous, the potential to grow is exponential,” dagdag pa ni Andaya.

Samantala, sinabi ni Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., sa kanyang keynote address na inihayag ni Undersecretary for Livestock Deogracias Victor Savellano, na ang dairy sector ay isang ‘sunrise industry’.

“We are seeing the increased involvement of major investors and international players, signaling the incredible potential before us. Let us harness the momentum and capitalize on the opportunities that are opening up, not just for the benefit of our businesses, but for the future of Philippine agriculture,” aniya.

Tinukoy ni Laurel ang Western Visayas, sa “impresibong produksiyon” nito na 2.2 million liters ng gatas at 10,615 dairy animals, na isang “model of what can be achieved when we work together toward a common goal.”

“Our efforts will not cease until you see a thriving dairy industry in every province of Western Visayas. The progress of our farmers is the ultimate measure of our success,” dagdag pa ng kalihim.

Ang summit, inorganisa sa pakikipagtulungan sa Western Visayas Dairy Farmers and Stakeholders Agriventure Inc., sa pangunguna ng chairman nito na si Architect Johnny Que, ay dinaluhan ng halos 500 stakeholders sa buong bansa para sa kauna-unahang summit matapos ang pandemya.

“This year’s summit is all about advancing Dairypreneurship, innovation, nutrition, sustainability, and food security.

Over the next few days, we’ll share ideas, celebrate successes, and collaborate on solutions that can shape the dairy industry for years to come,” aniya.