NDA targets enough dairy cattle to supply PH milk needs by 2030

The Philippine government seeks to be self-sufficient in milk production as the National Dairy Authority (NDA) is currently working to have enough cattle stocks within five to 10 years that would be able to supply the country’s dairy needs.

NDA Administrator Marcus Andaya said Monday the Philippines is aiming to be self-sufficient in having enough dairy animals so as not to rely on importing cattle in the future. 

“Doon sa programa na ginagawa namin ngayon at ipapatupad ngayong 2025, yung stock farm, multiplier farm papunta sa small road farm, pag 'yan po ay nagtuloy-tuloy, sa aming projection, siguro by 2030, 2035 matitigil na ang importation,” he said during a briefing in Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon.

(Under our program that we will implement this 2025, from stock farms and multiplier farms to small road farms, if everything will go smoothly, our projection is we can stop importing by 2030, 2035.) 

“Kasi dadami na ating mga dairy animals, magkakaroon na tayo ng sapat na numero ng dairy animals. Ang aming objective ay matigil na once and for all ang importation kasi mayroon na tayong enough source ng gatas,” Andaya added. 

(Since our dairy animals will multiply, we will have enough of them. Our objective is stop the importation once we have enough source of milk.) 

The country’s milk sufficiency is currently at 1.65%, but the NDA is hoping to reach its target 2.5% this 2025. 

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The agency noted that the country’s demand for milk is estimated to be 1.9 billion liters, which is way below the 29 million liters that is being produced. 

“Although malaki na ang inimprove natin sa pagdami ng dairy animals, nasa 156,000 dairy animals lang po tayo ngayon,” he added. “Dahil hindi naman natin pangunahing hayop ang dairy animals, so kailangan natin mag-import ng dairy animals, kung saan ilalagay natin ‘yan sa mga stock farms at multiplier farms at doon natin paparamihin.” 

(Although we improved with our number of dairy animals, we only have 156,000 dairy animals as of the present. Because dairy animals are not our primary animals in the country, we need to import them and place them in stock farms and multiplier animals to raise them.) 

The NDA is optimistic that it will reach its goal of hitting its milk sufficiency target in 2025 as its stock farms for imported cattle will begin operations this year. 

“Kapag dumating na yung mga imported natin, may chance na dadami yang mga yan, at dadating ‘yan puro mga buntis…Kapag dating dito niyan, manganganak yan at siguradong maraming gatas ang mapo-produce niyan,” said Andaya, noting that the Philippines imports dairy cattle from Australia and New Zealand. 

(When our imported animals arrive, they can multiply here because most of them are pregnant ... .So they will give birth here and we can expect more milk production.) 

At present, the NDA said Calabarzon, Western Visayas, and Northern Mindanao are the country’s top milk producing region. 

The agency reiterated to achieve a 5% milk sufficiency after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. 's term in 2028. 

“Sa pagtatapos ng termino ng ating Pangulo sa 2028, sana abot na namin ang 5% na milk sufficiency, which we can produce at least 80 million liters a year by that time, by 2028,” said Andaya. 

(We hope to achieve a 5% milk sufficiency or produce at least 80 million liters by the end of the President’s term in 2028.) — RF, GMA Integrated News