BALANGA CITY – The Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) entrusted a total of 10 pregnant dairy buffaloes to the Bataan Farmers’ Agricultural Cooperative (BFAC) under the Carabao Herd Build-Up project through the Carabao-Based Enterprise Development (CBED) program.
PCC at Central Luzon State University CBED veterinarian Lara Joy Sibulboro said the distribution of dairy buffaloes to qualified farmers aims to help them earn additional income from carabao raising and milk production to improve their livelihoods.
The pregnant dairy buffaloes given to the farmers have a total value of P748,950.00.
“The farmers did not spend anything on the buffalo they received,” Sibulburo said.
She clarified that each beneficiary needed to return a female buffalo aged 18 months to their affiliated cooperative, which will also come from the offspring of the buffalo they have received from the PCC.
Through this, the buffalo that will return can be distributed to other members of their organization who also want to raise dairy buffalo and ensure that this program of assistance to farmers continues.
“From the moment they receive the buffaloes, it is the responsibility of our farmers to take good care of each buffalo,” Sibulboro said.
It includes providing the buffaloes with proper shelter or housing, ensuring right feeding methods, and clean drinking water.
Sibulboro also encouraged farmers to continue milking them when their buffaloes gave birth to have an additional source of income.
She said farmers embracing the program shared by PCC is a big deal for the continued growth of the carabao industry, their organization, and livelihood.
BFAC is also among those who received training from PCC on dairy production and management, to equip them with essential skills in properly caring for dairy buffaloes. (CLJD/CCN, PIA Region 3-Bataan)