CEBU - The dairy sector in Cebu City is set to produce more than 1,000 liters of milk daily by next year.
Cebu City Agriculturist Joelito Baclayon said the livestock upgrading program of the city will surely double the current production of milk from the six milk-producing barangays.
He said with the current 570 cattle heads, the barangays already produced around 500 to 600 liters a day.
The produce are brought to the Cebu Federation of Dairy Cooperatives for processing and then distributed to the grocery stores and supermarkets. They are also used by the city in its milk feeding programs among the children in the barangays affected by malnutrition.
By next year, Baclayon said they are going to apply the modern technology of artificial insemination that is expected to double the number of cows. Through artificial insemination, he added that they can breed 100 more cows in every barangay.
To make the program successful, Baclayon said they are tapping and training barangay-based agricultural technicians who may not be graduates of agriculture courses but are taught with the expertise.
On top of the other existing six barangays, he said seven more barangays are also now being piloted for the artificial insemination.
Despite continuing government and industry efforts to increase dairy production, Philippine milk production remains at less than one percent of the total dairy requirements with import filling most of the supply.
Imports of milk and milk products increased by over 10 percent last year, and are expected to continue to grow this year due to rising demand and the appreciation of the Philippine currency.
Dairy product is the country's second largest agricultural import. – Ferliza C. Contratista/WAB (THE FREEMAN)