February 21, 2024

New US$715,000 40-million feed centre to open in New Lucena, Philippines

A promising boost awaits the Philippines dairy industry as New Lucena town prepares to host a PHP 40 million feed centre (US$715,000), following the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the local government and the country's National Dairy Authority (NDA), Daily Guardian reported.

This initiative signals a significant step towards enhancing dairy production across the Western Visayas region.

The official commencement of the project was marked by a signing ceremony attended by NDA Administrator Dr Gabriel L Lagamayo and New Lucena Mayor Liecel Mondejar-Seville. The event, witnessed by NDA OIC Assistant Manager Vicente B Bitolinamisa III and representatives of the Western Visayas Dairy Farmers Confederation, underscores collaborative efforts aimed at advancing the agricultural landscape of the region.

Situated on a 3-hectare property within the municipality, the infrastructure will house essential facilities, including the NDA regional office building, a modern feed centre with advanced laboratories for feed and milk, and a dedicated training centre.

Dr Lagamayo emphasised the importance of fostering farmer partnerships to ensure the sustainability of the initiative, with potential future enhancements to be driven by these stakeholders.

Upon its completion, the feed centre is projected to yield significant outputs, producing 250 tons of corn silage and 50 tonnes of pelletised concentrates monthly. This substantial production capacity is expected to position the municipality as a key contributor to livestock development in the region, aligning with the mayor's forward-looking vision.

Meanwhile, NDA OIC Assistant Manager Bitolinamisa highlighted the impressive growth trajectory of the Western Visayas' dairy industry, citing a commendable 6% annual increase in production and herd inventory over the past three years.

-      Daily Guardian