MANILA — The National Dairy Authority (NDA) is intensifying its educational initiatives to engage more young people in agriculture, aiming to support the agricultural policies of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s administration.
According to Philippines News Agency, NDA Information Officer IV Ian Caro Agbayani detailed the agency’s current efforts during an interview on Radyo Pilipinas. These efforts include internship programs and training opportunities specifically tailored for new entrants into the dairy industry. “May mga internship na nasa farm, kasalukuyan po mayroon din kaming internship na nasa lab (laboratories). So, ito po iyong mga (We have internships in farms, and currently, we also offer internships in labs. These are focused on) food safety,” Agbayani explained. The internships are particularly beneficial for students pursuing food technology courses, providing practical, hands-on experience in the NDA’s labs.
Further emphasizing the community aspect of agricultural education, Agbayani noted that NDA trainers frequently visit farm cooperatives to provide free education on basic animal husbandry, feeds, and animal health. He also touched on the cultural tradition of generational business within the dairy sector, where family-owned enterprises are often passed down to the younger generation. “Ang mga batang exposed po sa family business na dairy, kadalasan po sila rin ang nagpapatuloy ng kanilang negosyo (Children who grow up in family dairy businesses are often the ones to continue these enterprises),” he said.
The NDA is actively running several programs aimed at enhancing the dairy sector’s infrastructure and productivity, including the Dairy Herd Buildup, Dairy Enterprise and Development program, and partnerships with the Department of Education and the Department of Social Welfare and Development for milk feeding initiatives. Another significant program is the Milk Quality Assurance, which aims to maintain high standards in dairy products.
Highlighting a significant upcoming event, Agbayani invited stakeholders to participate in the National Dairy Summit 2024, set to be held in Iloilo City from October 28 to 30. This summit marks the first large-scale gathering of dairy industry stakeholders since the interruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. “Ngayon po ay nagbabalik itong conference na ito bilang (Now it comes back as) National Dairy Summit. Ito po ay inisyatiba ng aming farmers at stakeholders sa (This is an initiative of our farmers and stakeholders in) Western Visayas,” Agbayani added, noting the importance of the event in fostering networking and collaboration to enhance milk production and achieve greater self-sufficiency.
With current milk sufficiency at just 1.6 percent, the NDA has ambitious plans to increase this figure significantly by 2028, aiming to produce 80 million liters of milk, or approximately 5 percent of the country’s milk demand.