Manila, Philippines - Agriterra has signed a Php3.5 million contract agreement with Alaska Milk Corp together with the government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC) National Dairy Authority (NDA) to conduct cooperative assessments and provide capacity building to six dairy cooperatives in Southern Luzon. The project will run from November 2021 to October 2022 with the long-term goal of scaling up domestic fresh milk supply and contributing to the sustainable development of the dairy industry in the region.
In the photo during the ceremonial contract signing are Alaska Managing Director Tarang Gupta, NDA Administrator Marilyn Mabale, and Agriterra Manager for Agri Advice Gabriela Versteeg.
Under the partnership, Agriterra will lead the scoping and assessment of the dairy cooperatives and focus on improving the cooperatives’ governance, financial management, and climate resilience. Alaska through its holding company Royal Friesland Campina will also provide six agricultural experts or Agripoolers to join Agriterra’s assessment team. The cooperatives will undergo at least two trainings that will be facilitated by Agriterra based on the outcomes of the assessment.
The partnership follows the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) entered into by and between Alaska and the NDA in May 2021 to implement the Dairy Training and Development Program (DTDP) that aims to improve dairy farmers’ quality of milk, increase their productivity per cow, and provide them support in gaining access to local and international markets.
In the new partnership, the NDA will assist Agriterra in the selection of 50 cooperative members that will participate in the project and provide technical assistance to Agriterra and Alaska during the scoping, assessment, and post-evaluation phases of the project.
The five primary dairy cooperatives and a federation participating in the project are: Batangas Dairy and Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BADACO), Good Shepherd Agriculture Cooperative (GSAC), Palcon Dairy Multi-Purpose Cooperative (PALCON), Samahan ng Maggagatas ng Batangas Cooperative (SAMABACO), San Pablo Dairy Cooperative (SAPADACO), and Katipunan ng mga Kooperatibang Maggagatas Integrated Cooperative (KKMI).
