LIPA CITY, BATANGAS – On September 27, during the 2nd Richmade Dairy Cattle Congress, National Dairy Authority (NDA) Administrator Marcus Antonius T. Andaya outlined a bold strategy to enhance the Philippine dairy industry. The conference, organized by CJ Feeds Philippines, Inc., a Korean company that specializes in dairy cattle nutrition, featured leading experts discussing the future of dairy farming.
Dr. By Choi from Vietnam’s Vina Milk shared insights from a study on the Philippine Dairy Industry, highlighting its immense potential. He reported a 10.2% growth rate in the market in 2022, projecting continued double-digit growth. “A double-digit growth is a figure you cannot ignore,” Dr. Choi stated, noting that milk production has surged by 30% over the past decade.
The country’s milk consumption is expected to rise from 1 million tons in 2018 to 1.8 million tons in 2029.
Atty. Andaya emphasized the need for significant investments in increasing the animals on the milk line to achieve milk self-sufficiency, stating, “We cannot grip the faucet and hope it will produce more water, we need more faucets,” said Atty. Andaya.
“The NDA will be aggressively importing cattle for our stock farms for the herd to multiply under the care of NDA. The acclimatized offspring of these dairy cattle will be the ones to be distributed to our dairy farmers,” he added.
The NDA is set to complete five new stock farms by the end of 2024, operational by early 2025, increasing the existing herd of nearly 80,000 dairy animals supported by the NDA. From January to June 2024, milk production rose 15%, reaching 16,020 metric tons, which represents 21% of the country’s total liquid milk supply.
Under his administration, Atty. Andaya aims to focus on several key areas: importing dairy cattle, expanding herd sizes, increasing milk yields, and providing training for farmers. He also plans to strengthen the local milk market share by coordinating with the commercial sector and the local milk producers regarding milk absorption of a certain portion of the locally produced milk which is well in accord with Sec 17 of RA 7884.
“Progress doesn’t happen in isolation. It is through the collective efforts of farmers, experts, business leaders, commercial sector and the government that we can drive growth. The future of the Philippine Dairy Industry Depends on the collaboration between all stakeholders and the NDA stands ready to assist and lead this endeavor,” said Atty. Andaya.
“When I learned that the country’s milk sufficiency is at 1%, with 99% being imported, I told myself that I am not going home. Give me more funding, and we will help the farmers and cooperatives produce more milk with the help of our stakeholders,” he added. ### (By Ian Caro E. Agbayani, DA-NDA)
