Earlier today, the Department of Agriculture-Philippine Carabao Center (DA-PCC) and Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) held a project implementation kick-off meeting for the project titled “National Dairy Herd Improvement (NDHIP) and Enterprise Build-Up,” which has a project period of 2023 to 2027.
According to Dr. Liza G. Battad, PCAF technical adviser and project leader, the project aims to establish a data capture, data processing and analysis, and feedback system pertaining to the performance of dairy animals and herds. It also aims to adopt innovative and pertinent extension methods that will increase the adoption of suitable dairy technologies. Additionally, this will aid in enhancing carapreneurs’ production performance and profitability. Consequently, it is anticipated that this collaboration will result in sustainable outcomes, including improved herd performance, increased profitability among dairy producers, and a progressive dairy industry.
Dr. Caro B. Salces, DA-PCC’s OIC Executive Director, underscored the need to enhance the capabilities of extension professionals and carapreneurs in dairy herd improvement management practices in order to sustain the project.
In response, KOICA Philippines Country Director Kim Eunsub stated, “Today, as we conduct this project implementation survey, we launch another partnership.” I anticipate a fruitful and productive collaboration with all of you. May this partnership contribute to the improvement of our smallholder farmers’ quality of life.”
Moreover, various topics under the NDHI Project Implementation were presented during the meeting, including the Preliminary Survey Results by Dr. Seo Kangseok, the Proposed NDHIP Project Revision by Dr. Battad, and the NDHIP Framework and System Development by Dr. Ester B. Flores, the Head of the Animal Breeding and Genomics Section.
After the meeting, the PCC team accompanied KOICA delegates to the project sites in Nueva Ecija. The following day, they will collect data at additional project sites in Pangasinan and Pampanga.
The PCC NDHIP implementation survey will be conducted on April 12-19.
