India to help develop RP’s dairy industry

India will reportedly help the Philippines develop its local dairy industry, according to Agriculture Secretary Arthur C. Yap.

Yap, who accompanied President Arroyo in her trip to India last week, reported that India has indicated its willingness to help provide the Philippines with genetic material to breed and increase its milk-producing livestock.

At present, Yap revealed, the Philippines has only 30,000 heads of carabaos.

As such, the Philippines has to import most of its dairy requirement from Australia and New Zealand.

To start a viable local dairy industry, Yap said, the government needs to increase its livestock to at least half a million heads.

India has developed its own dairy industry. Preliminary talks with his counterpart, Yap said, indicated India’s willingness to help the Philippines with genetic material, artificial insemination and breeding technology.

However, more formal discussions, Yap said, would be conducted later this year in India by a Joint Working Committee.

The Joint Working Committee, however, Yap added, would also tackle other cooperation in defense and health aside from agriculture.

Agriculture Undersecretary Berna Romulo-Puyat, Yap said, would represent the Department of Agriculture in the JWC meeting in India to be scheduled before the end of the year.