500% increase in local milk production eyed

MANILA, Philippines — The National Dairy Administration (NDA) said the government plans to increase local milk production by 500 percent by producing 80 million liters a year in order to meet the country’s demand.

NDA Administrator Gabriel Lagamayo on Thursday said they are aiming to increase the milking herd to 15,000 heads and produce 15 liters of milk per cow per day.

Lagamayo noted the daily average milk production per cow is only eight to 10 liters.

He said the demand for dairy products will increase by three percent in 2023 with a total demand of three million metric tons, citing a study by the United States Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Services.

The NDA is planning to develop five stock farms in the country, in General Tinio, Nueva Ecija; Guinobatan, Albay; Ubay, Bohol; Malaybalay, Bukidnon and Davao.

The farms will also breed island-born animals, which will help improve the genetics of the dairy herd in the Philippines.

“With domestic production unable to meet the demand, the Philippines’ dairy industry has the opportunity to provide high-quality dairy products,” Lagamayo said.

Dairy Confederation of the Philippines president Danilo Fausto said there is a need to increase the NDA’s budget to improve local production.