Dairy sector output up

Efforts to beef up the stock of dairy animals and pump up milk production are paying off as the dairy industry was the fastest-growing component of the domestic livestock sector in 2013.

According to the National Dairy Authority, milk output grew by 5.5 percent to 19.46 million liters in 2013.

In terms of value, the dairy industry chalked up a 5.8-percent growth to P592.17 million.

The NDA, which celebrated its 19th anniversary last week, said milk production had grown by 35 percent over the last five years from 14.41 million liters in 2009.

Similarly, the population of dairy animals increased by 30 percent to 44,374 heads in 2013. In 2009, the number was pegged at 34,217.

NDA documents show that the “modest growth” of the dairy industry was attributed to the increase in the number of milk-producing animals, including cows, carabao and goats, especially in NDA-assisted areas.

In such areas, the number of milking animals went up by 15 percent to 7,861 heads in 2013. This growth, in turn, led to a 7-percent increase in milk production, which reached 14.42 million liters last year.

“Efforts to expand dairy animal inventory and milk production paid off based on the continued growth as [small-scale] dairy producers across the nation now contribute 74 percent of the total national milk output,” the NDA said.

Also, commercial farms now participate in government programs by supplying dairy producers with animals, the agency added.

Based on the 2010-2016 Dairy Road Map, the government wants to expand the dairy herd to 55,000 heads; create 22,000 jobs; and involve 100,000 families in dairying.

Further, the road map is aimed at enabling domestic producers to supply 43 percent of the demand for ready-to-drink milk.

Currently, local producers account for just 21 percent of the demand, which is pegged at 92.57 million liters.

By 2016, demand is expected to reach 109.68 million liters, which means that local suppliers should be able to produce at least 47.16 million liters.