Indigenous Communities and the Future of Philippine Dairy A New Partnership

In a significant development for the Philippines’ agricultural sector, the National Dairy Authority (NDA) has announced a collaborative venture with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). This partnership aims to establish more dairy farms in indigenous communities, a move that is expected to simultaneously boost the nation’s dairy output and provide livelihood opportunities to these communities.

The project, which began in early 2024, involves setting up stock farms within ancestral domains, specifically designed for the production and breeding of dairy cattle. These facilities will include processing units, and the land requirements are estimated at 10 hectares for farms with 50 heads of dairy cattle and 20-30 hectares for those with 100 heads.

Central to this initiative is the incorporation of indigenous cultural communities/indigenous peoples (ICCs/IPs) into the dairy industry. These communities will be organized into cooperatives, making them eligible to receive dairy animals. Moreover, they will be an integral part of the workforce, receiving training in various aspects of dairy farming, including animal health and management, milk processing, and financial literacy.

The NDA has committed to upholding the highest standards of respect for sacred ancestral lands, environmental norms, and traditional protocols, aligning the project with the Ancestral Domain Sustainable Development and Protection Plan of Indigenous Cultural Communities. The project will undergo thorough validation processes to ensure it serves the best interests of the ICCs/IPs.

By the second year of operation, the ICCs/IPs are set to receive 10% of the farm’s dairy output, a gesture underscoring the project’s commitment to the communities’ economic advancement and the well-being of their children through better nutrition.

This initiative is part of a broader goal to achieve a 5% increase in milk sufficiency by 2028 through operational expansion. It represents a fusion of cultural respect, sustainable development, and economic progress, potentially transforming the landscape of the dairy industry in the Philippines while empowering indigenous communities.