October 7, 2024
Philippine dairy official seeks cattle imports for stock farms to drive domestic milk production
The Philippines' National Dairy Authority (NDA) Administrator, Marcus Antonius T. Andaya, recently pushed for the importation of cattle for stock farms to increase milk production.
Data from the NDA shows that the country's milk supply is 99% imported, while a study presented at a conference found that the Philippine dairy market grew by 10.2% in 2022 with growth projected to remain in double digits.
"We cannot grip the faucet and hope it will produce more water. We need more faucets," Andaya said.
Andaya added that the NDA will "aggressively" import cattle for stock farms to multiply the herd under its care and distribute the offspring to dairy farmers.
The NDA is also eyeing to have five new stock farms operational by early 2025 to help increase its herd of nearly 80,000 heads.
"Progress doesn't happen in isolation. It is through the collective efforts of farmers, experts, business leaders, the commercial sector, and the government that we can drive growth," Andaya said.
- Inquirer