ILOILO CITY—The Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) based at the West Visayas State University (WVSU) in Calinog, Iloilo, has gone massive in promoting buffalo milk not just in Iloilo, but also in the neighboring provinces of Panay.
PCC at WVSU Director Arn Granada said the partnership and collaboration with the Department of Agriculture family agencies has been explored to maximize intervention and assistance to farmers, livestock raisers and other agricultural stakeholders.
The center is now producing 90 to 100 liters of milk daily with 15 heads milking caracow.
“We are producing an average of 6 liters per animal and, as per record, one caracow has already produce 9 liters for a day here in our center,” Granada added.
During the conduct of the National Rice Technology Forum and Field Day at Pototan, Iloilo, last month, the PCC introduced to some 1,250 farmer participants the buffalo milk.
A total of 500 liters of buffalo milk flavored with chocolate, pandan and strawberry were refilled in cups for the farmers to savor its freshness and nutrition.
Farmer Mamerto Cordova of Leganes, Iloilo, said he is fond of drinking buffalo milk to refresh himself and maintain his active lifestyle in the farm.
“We are lucky that PCC at WVSU produce and process buffalo milk in their center and making it available within our vicinity. I’m encouraging my fellow farmers to drink buffalo milk daily,” Cordova said.
Granada said that on the third day of the forum, the PCC was able to sell 100 bottles of buffalo milk to farmers coming from the five districts of Iloilo. We also sell pastillas, white cheese and other milk products in our center, he added.
Aside from producing and processing buffalo milk, the center also extends technical assistance to carabao raisers, such as artificial insemination, deworming, pregnancy diagnosis, provision of forage and grasses for planting materials and trainings.
In addition, the center is assisting 11 dairy farmers in the processing and marketing of their milk produce.
Interested qualified farmers can also avail themselves of bull under the Bull Loan Program in order to upgrade native carabaos in their municipality.