The Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) has partnered with the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) to help the farmers increase their productivity by integrating dairy enterprise in rice production.
The partnership is in support to PhilRice’s Palayamanan Plus, an intensified rice-based production system that focuses on increasing profitability in the rice environments through integration and diversification of farming components such as rice-based crop production, mushroom, livestock, and organic production for higher crop productivity, value-adding, and marketing.
During the MOA signing, PCC turned over five pregnant purebred dairy buffaloes to support the livestock production of Palayaman Plus, June 6.
“Dairy is not a separate entity. It goes hand-in-hand with rice production. Rice straw can be eaten by carabaos. Their manure can be used by farmers for vermicomposting. Viable dairy enterprises help the rice farmers boost their income,” said Dr. Arnel Del Barrio, PCC executive director.
PhilRice and PCC will conduct basic and applied research to study rice and dairy buffalo-based production management that smallholder farmers could easily replicate.
“We hope that the enterprise will continue to progress to serve as a good model for rice farmers,” said Dr. Calixto M. Protacio, PhilRice executive director.
For more information on Palayaman Plus, farmers may contact the PhilRice Text Center at 0920-911-1398.