NDA eyes new funding from US to beef up local dairy herd

The National Dairy Authority (NDA) is exploring possible new funding from the US to beef up the country's dairy herd as the state agency seeks to achieve a five-percent self-sufficiency in milk by 2028.

- By JASPER EMMANUEL ARCALAS

NDA administrator Marcus Antonius Andaya said they are now studying the possibility of seeking a new round of funding from the US as the P1.56-billion four-year grant under the US PL480 program will end this year.

While waiting for a possible foreign funding, the NDA would capitalize on available domestic budget such as those from the General Appropriations Act and the agency's share from the Coconut Farmers Industry Development Plan to import cattle.

The NDA needs at least P1 billion annual budget, double than its current funding of at least P500 million, to achieve its goal of increasing the country's milk production.