Farmers earn good money from dairy production

Among the federation members of the Wangan Dairy Farmers Cooperatives (WADAC), the Davao Dairy Farmers Cooperative Federation of Dairy Farmers Cooperative stands out.

Wangan is a hilly farming community 29 kilometers north of Davao City. Most of the farmers in the area are into coconut production, while others are engaged in vegetable and fruit production.

Dairy production was introduced in the early 1990s by the National Dairy Authority, an agency attached to the Department of Agriculture. WADAC started with 15 farmers rearing 45 heads and who were convinced that dairying held some promise. Today the coop has 56 farmer-members, 11 of whom now rely on dairying as their main source of income, 15 of the coop members are women and five WADAC members hold responsible positions in the community. One is a barangay councilor, while four are barangay health workers.

WADAC currently has 2004 heads of cattle of which 100 are dams. Of this number, 56 are cows on the milk line producing an average 496 liters a day. The coop buys the milk produce of its members at P13 per liter. This translates to a gross income of P6,448 for the farmer-members. The coop resells the raw milk with the P2 difference serves as capital build-up and income of the coop.

Some 600 liters of fresh milk are sold by the coop each month within the Wangan community. The buyers include elementary students at the Wangan National Agricultural School and Wangan TESDA School.

At present WADAC milk production contributes 31 percent of the 20,524 liters total milk volume processed FEDDFC milk plant.

WADAC constantly seek ways to improve the economic well-being of its members. Aside from reselling, the group is also an active partner of the milk feeding program of the city government of Davao.

Another economic activity of WADAC is lending with an initial capital of P20,000. Farmers members can avail of personal loans ranging from P500 to P2,000.