SCIENCE CITY OF MUÑOZ, Nueva Ecija—The Philippine Carabao Center here will be hosting this year's International Conference on Carabao-Based Enterprise Development.
Ma. Cecilia Irang, PCC Information Officer, said about 200 participants from the Philippines and other Asian countries are expected to attend the event, which will be held at the Philippine Carabao Center National Headquarters in this city from Oct. 26 to 27.
The event, organized by the PCC and the Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Studies and Research in Agriculture, is meant to boost efforts in developing the carabao industry toward food and nutrition security and livelihood development in the country and some member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Irang said.
"The CBED stakeholders will exchange during the conference scientific and technological knowledge and best practices on buffalo-based enterprise development, discuss government policies, regulations, support facilities and logistics that are vital in the development of carabao-based dairy enterprises; and, explore mutually beneficial partnerships, collaboration and cooperation in relevant research and development and initiatives," she said.
Senator Cynthia Villar, Chair of the Committees on Agriculture and Food and Government Corporations and Public Enterprises, will be the keynote speaker during the opening program on October 26.
During the plenary sessions, scientists and experts from the Philippines, India, Thailand and Laos will present their respective topics during the two-day event.
Irang said that in the first plenary session, an institutional perspective on CBED will be tackled.
Dr. Libertado Cruz, former executive director and technical adviser of PCC, will discuss "Carabao-based Enterprise Development: from Theory to Practice." Sriram Singh, Executive Director of the National Dairy Development Board-Dairy Services in India, will share the "History and Lessons from India's NDDB."
Dr. Avnish Kumar, Principal Scientist of the National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources in India, will discuss "Application of Information Technology in Field Survey and Dairy Buffalo Recording System."
Perspective from the private sector in Asia will also be discussed during the second plenary session.
Ram Mohan Rao, Senior General Manager of the Mother Dairy Fruit and Vegetable Pvt. Ltd. in Delhi, India will discuss "Innovative Practices and Products from Mother Dairy."
Susie Martin, CEO and Director of Sales and Marketing in Laos Buffalo Dairy, and Chairinee Chaiyochlarb of Murrah Farm in Thailand, will also share their experiences in enterprise development.
During the third plenary session, continuation of discussions from the private sector's perspective will be carried out, featuring speakers from the Philippines.
Mike Mercado, owner of Mr. Moo's Milk Planet Co, will discuss "Mr. Moo: Sustaining Cooperative Gains through Innovative Partnerships," while Danilo Fausto, proprietor of the DVF Farm, Inc. will present "The DVF Gatas ng Kalabaw Experience in Value-adding and Mainstreaming Products in the Market."
Irang added that topics on "Mainstreaming CBED in the Philippines and ASEAN" will be discussed during the final plenary session on the second day of the event.
Dr. Flordeliza Lantican, SEARCA Value Chain Analysis Project Team Leader will tackle "Strengthening and Enhancing Competitiveness of CBED through Sustainable Value Chains."
Dr. Eric Palacpac, Chief of the PCC's Knowledge Management Division, will discuss "The Science of Delivery: Exploring Dynamics between Technical and Local Knowledge within Delivery Systems for CBED."
"The event will end with a tour of dairy facilities and dairy farms at PCC and nearby areas," Irang said.