Dairy agency gets new chief

MANILA, Philippines - A former ranking executive of the Deparment of Agriculture (DA) has taken over the reins of the National Dairy Authority (NDA), the government’s lead agency that oversees the development of the country’s dairy industry. 

Orkhan Usman, former Deputy Administrator of the National Tobacco Administration, was sworn in as Acting Administrator last Monday by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap.

A native of Luuk, Sulu, Usman eamed his Bachelor of Laws at the Far Eastern University.

He said he would focus on how to increase the country’s volume of dairy production which, right now, accounts for a mere two percent of the national requirement.

The new NDA chief plans to increase the number of diary zones and push dairy farming and livelihood projects involving production of dairy products to benefit local folks especially in depressed communities.  

Usman also intends to upgrade local cattle stock by means of artificial insemination. He told The STAR he would tap foreign breeds like the Holstein-Friesian breed for the insemination project. 

He thanked Yap and President Arroyo for giving him the chance to lead NDA.  

Urman served as NTA deputy administrator from 2006 to 2008. He is married to Merenisa Moti-Usman, a medical doctor, with whom he has a son, Orkhan Jr. – Teddy Molina