By Kenneth Marcos 
In the quiet farmlands of Piat, Cagayan, local farmers gathered with hope and excitement—ready to learn how to turn their native carabaos into a source of sustainable livelihood through dairy production.
To strengthen the province’s dairy buffalo industry, the Department of Agriculture–Philippine Carabao Center at Cagayan State University (DA-PCC at CSU) conducted a two-day training on Buffalo Production and Management on October 27–28 at the National Swamp Buffalo Gene Pool and Dairy Buffalo Farm in Baung, Piat, Cagayan.
The training brought together members of the Rang-ay Ti Pussian Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (RTPFMPC) and the Apayao Piat Agricultural Cooperative (APAC), along with representatives from the local governments of Alcala and Piat.
According to the DA-PCC, the program aims to equip participants with practical knowledge and technical skills in proper feeding, breeding, forage development, and herd health management—key areas that can help improve productivity and profitability in carabao-based farming.
Experts from the DA-PCC shared techniques on sustainable forage production, disease prevention, and reproductive management, emphasizing the importance of proper care in producing quality milk. Demonstrations were also held at the gene pool and dairy farm, allowing farmers to experience hands-on training in milking and handling dairy animals.
“By improving how farmers manage their herds, we can help them earn more and support the local dairy supply,” said a DA-PCC official. “We want to empower communities to see that carabao dairying is not just traditional—it can be a modern, profitable enterprise.”
Cagayan is one of Northern Luzon’s major agricultural provinces, where carabaos are widely used for farm work and meat production. However, only a small portion of farmers currently engage in dairy production. The DA-PCC hopes that more farmers will shift toward milk-based agribusiness as demand for locally produced dairy continues to rise.
Through partnerships with cooperatives and LGUs, the PCC also promotes the use of high-quality dairy buffalo breeds and provides continuous technical support to ensure long-term success for community-based dairy enterprises.
Participants expressed their appreciation for the training, saying it helped them understand how to transform carabao raising into a more organized and income-generating venture.
With stronger knowledge and government support, Cagayan’s farmers are now looking forward to producing not only stronger carabaos—but also fresh, locally made dairy products that can nourish their communities and strengthen the rural economy.
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