By Manny Piñol
Ubay, Bohol – The proposed multi-billion peso Bohol Dairy Project in Ubay town here took another step forward on Friday as local officials, farmers and dairy and livestock stakeholders unanimously approved and accepted the plan to turn the island province into the Dairy Capital of the Philippines.
Bohol Governor Edgar Chatto led local officials, dairy farmers groups and livestock stakeholders in a meeting with officials of the Department of Agriculture, the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), the National Dairy Authority (NDA), the Philippine Carabao Center held at the PCC Dairy Center in the Ubay Stock Farm.
Also present during the forum were Israel dairy expert Ronen Koll of AfiMilk, Argentinian Francisco Krausse and Colombian Alfonso Serrano, who both represented the Filipino-Argentianian company GENEX involved in Genetics, Embryo Transfers and Artificial Insemination.
Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco, Jr., former mayor of Maribojoc town, earlier gave his endorsement for the Bohol Dairy Project.
During the forum, stakeholders sought clarification on the impact of the arrival of imported Girolando cows from Brazil which will be the main herd to be used in the Dairy Project.
They raised concerns over the report that Brazil, while already free of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD), still undertakes an immunisation program.
The experts assured them that the dairy cows which will be brought to Bohol will be confined for six months in Brazil under the strict supervision of the World Animal Health body, the OIE, before these are shipped to the Philippines.
They also asked whether established dairy farmers’ groups would benefit from the Dairy Project and they were told that the offsprings of the imported Girolando Dairy Cows produced in the Ubay Dairy Project will be used in establishing satellite dairy farms to be owned by the farmers in the different towns of Bohol.
In the proposal presented to the stakeholders, it was explained that the Bohol Dairy Project, which is the government’s first and largest consolidated dairy project, will be a private-public-government partnership.
An initial herd of 5,000 Girolando Dairy Cows will be brought to the Philippines this year to be housed in modern milking sheds to be designed by experts.
Unlike in previous failed dairy programs where the dairy cows were distributed to individual farmers who did not have the technical and financial capability to support milk production, the Bohol Dairy Project will bring in corporations involved in the dairy and milk industry in the Philippines to directly buy and package the fresh milk right in the island.
The project is not only expected to provide employment to young agriculture and animal husbandry graduates of the island but also income opportunities for corn and forage farmers who will be engaged to produce silage for the dairy cows.
Dairy farmers groups will also be assisted in the second phase of the program so they could avail of the Girolando Dairy cows including modern milking facilities.
At the end of the forum, local officials, farmers and stakeholders gave their unanimous and resounding approval and support for the project.
Gov. Chatto publicly thanked President Rody Duterte for choosing Bohol as the Dairy Capital of the Philippines.
(Photos of the consultations in Ubay Bohol taken by Bong Piñol)
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