In line with its target to increase local dairy animal and milk production from 1.2% of the national requirement to 10% by 2022, the Department of Agriculture (DA) will put up its biggest dairy project in Ubay, Bohol.

“The proposed dairy project aims to increase the national milk production of the country to 190,000 metric tons. It includes the establishment of a breeding/multiplier farm for Girolando breed, known for its capacity to produce 100 liters of milk per day” Agriculture Secretary Manny Piñol announced.

The initiative is under a government-private sector partnership venture of the DA through the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI）and the National Dairy Authority (NDA).

Initially, DA will be importing 5000 heads of Girolando dairy cattle from Brazil.

“Since Brazil still vaccinates against Foot and Mouth Disease, the stocks being imported will go through strict OIE -World Organization for Animal Health supervised quarantine procedures which will take six months,” Piñol said.

On January 26, 2018, Piñol, representatives from NDA, BAI, and dairy project experts from the Israeli company Afimik and Fil-Argentinian genetics company Genex, conducted a discussion for the implementation of the proposed dairy project with the government officials and dairy stakeholders of Bohol. Issues and concerns were addressed during the caucus.

Piñol said that the project will bring employment opportunities to the people of Bohol.

As such, he urged the dairy farm groups to organize themselves to qualify for the various programs and assistance under the Agriculture Department.

Various areas, being eyed for the establishment of the state-of-the-art multiplier farm, which includes the 3,600-hectare Ubay Stock Farm, were inspected by experts from Israel and Argentina. ### (Bethzaida Bustamante, DA-AFID)