BAGUIO CITY – As part of the Farmer’s and Fisherfolk’s Month activities for this year in the Cordillera region, the Department of Agriculture Cordillera (DA-CAR) spearheaded the conduct of “BABRC Milky Day” that seeks to reintroduce various dairy operations and projects of the agency, through the Baguio Animal Breeding and Research Center (BABRC), formerly known as the Baguio Dairy Farm.
The activity offered various activities for the public included the dairy development project field tour, dairy product processing demonstration on milk pasteurization, yogurt, ice cream, and latte making, bullwhip cracking and other exhibitions.
“This Milky day activity was conceptualized by the department to recognize the importance of the dairy sector in agriculture. What DA-CAR intends to attain is to let the public know that Baguio City has its own dairy farm operating on a daily basis. For this year’s activity, we will have an open house wherein we want to feature our farm production area specifically for milk starting from basic re-pasteurization and processing,” said BABRC Officer-In-Charge Dr. Ofelia Ducayag.
DA-CAR’s projection of the dairy industry at BABRC is promising given that the present 25 cows housed at the facility, majority came from Australia, produce 160 to 180 liters of milk daily.
The said production is used by the department’s main processor, the Mountain High Dairy Cooperative, who markets the milk and its by-products.
“We envision the BABRC to be an agri-tourism center in the future where the public will have the opportunity to engage with animals and witness the processes in dairy production in an urban area like the City of Baguio. We would like to encourage the youth of Baguio and the neighboring municipalities of Benguet to be involved in agriculture given that the youth are seen as the future of the said sector,” Dr. Ducayag stated.
The facility has also been open for young farmers in Baguio City who want to delve into agriculture with the BABRC’s dairy project as an avenue for them to become farmer-collaborators of DA-CAR.
DA-CAR Regional Executive Director Atty. Jennilyn Dawayan called on the public to continue helping in safeguarding the facility to give the future generations the opportunity to engage in agriculture, particularly in the dairy industry.
“Our dream is that the BABRC will have an area for strawberry or other greenhouses for them to be a showcase for our visitors. With the help of the people, I know that we can achieve more in terms of developing this station as a research and innovation center aside from being a production center,” Dawayan added.
The 94-hectare BABRC was reserved under Proclamation No. 603, series of 1940, signed by former President Manuel L. Quezon. It was initially established as an animal breeding station and evolved since then into a research and extension center in 2014, enhancing its role in agricultural development. The DA-Bureau of Animal Industry oversees its stewardship, with DA-CAR managing its operations to sustain research, conservation, and agricultural innovation. By JTLlanes
