The National Dairy Authority (NDA) said the Philippines may hit a 2-percent self-sufficiency in milk by next year.
That is slightly higher than the 1.62 percent at present and still far from 5 percent eyed by 2028.
NDA Administrator Marcus Antonius Andaya told reporters in a briefing Friday night projections can be met with the scheduled completion of five stock farms before the end of the year as well as with the impending importation of dairy cows.
“For 2025, our target is at 2 percent. We’ve already increased and as of June 2024, our data shows that we are 1.64 percent sufficient. (We are) Very optimistic the 2025 target is achievable,” Andaya said.
As of end-2023, local milk demand reached 1.9 billion liters which production was only 28 million liters.
As of the first half, production was 16 million liters.
Andaya said the stock farms will be located in Tinio, Nueva Ecija; Ubay, Bohol; Malaybalay, Bukidnon; Carmen, Cotabato; and Prosperidad, Agusan Del Sur where the planned imported cow herd will be raised.
“We are also targeting another stock farm undergoing study which will be in Roxas, Palawan.
If that is pursued, we can slightly balance the positioning of our stock farms since it is only in the Southern Luzon where we still don’t have enough stock farms and Palawan will be a great place to locate that,” Andaya said.
NDA said that for next year, at least 600 dairy cows will be imported mostly from Australia.
Andaya said procurement for the said herd has started and will likely be delivered in the country by July 2025 and are also expected to produce milk within the same year.
“That will be on top of our existing herd… Right now our dairy cattle is at around 79,000 but not all of that are milking because they also have different classifications… As we speak, there are only 16,000 that are in the milking line,” Andaya said.
At present, the country has an average yield of 10 liters of milk per head of cow per day.
NDA also said that for next year, it has an approved budget from the Department of Budget Management of P537 million which is slightly higher than its 2024 budget of P515 million.
Andaya said the P537 million budget may also be supplemented with additional funding from local government units.
The NDA is also keen on implementing its current five-step plan involving an increase in herd, milk yield, demand and public awareness while also minimizing farm risks at the same time.
The agency said that milk yield can be boosted through proper feeding, nutrition and cow comfort.
It added that empowering farmers with knowledge is also crucial to reduce risks in dairy farming and the death of animals.
