Specific areas of cooperation have been identified by the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC) and the Department of Livestock Development (DLD) of Thailand and were agreed upon during the second “Technical Cooperation Meeting (TCM)” by the representatives of the two agencies last July 11-12.

These areas are on nutrition management and forage breeding, animal breeding, genomics and reproductive biotechnology, product development, and exchanges of study mission.

This event happened following the signing of the Implementing Arrangement between PCC and DLD on March 21, 2017 and the 1st TCM on June 21-24, 2017. The TCM supports the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Agricultural Cooperation between the Government of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines signed on October 2003 in Bangkok.

Mr. Jakkapop Chansaad, DLD’s Director of Nakorn Ratchasima Artificial Insemination and Biotechnology Research Center, and Dr. Arnel del Barrio, PCC’s Executive Director, led the two teams in discussing specific areas of cooperation during the said meeting held at the PCC National Headquarters and Gene Pool in the Science City of Mu?oz, Nueva Ecija.

Joining them in the meeting were Andrea Paola Flores, representative of the International Affairs Division of the Department of Agriculture for Southeast Asia; Dr. Ronnie Domingo, director of the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI); and other BAI officials.

“As we venture into our mandate, we also recognize the value of strategic partnership and collaboration. Thailand is one such important partner-country in this endeavor considering its many advances in livestock production and related enterprises,” Dr. del Barrio said. 

He expressed his hope that “this technical cooperation meeting be an avenue for both parties to forge long-term and meaningful collaborations”.

For his part, Mr. Chansaad expressed his enthusiasm and support to the identified areas of cooperation.

The partnership’s goal is to strengthen collaboration on scientific and technical cooperation, specifically to promote, exchange [ideas] and collaborate on breeding, reproduction, nutrition management and other areas.

After several presentations of concepts, the PCC and DLD-Thailand identified their respective objectives and goals for each area of cooperation. Excerpts of the second TCM were signed by Dr. del Barrio and Mr. Chansaad.

“After the discussion, we had summed up those areas that are doable. Then we will submit this to the Secretary of Agriculture for his final approval and to the approving official of DLD,” Dr. del Barrio said.

The PCC top officials joined the DLD delegates in touring the National Bull Farm and Semen Processing Laboratory in Digdig, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija on the second day of the meeting. In this facility, they were briefed about its operations and semen processing procedures.

Thereafter, they were ushered to the cryobank facility and national gene pool to visit the purebred buffaloes and later toured the Central Dairy Collection and Processing Facility. Their last stop was at the Milka Krem facilities where the carabao’s milk products, such as mozzarella cheese, bocconcini, kesong puti, pastillas, yoghurt, fresh milk, espasol de leche, rice cakes, and different flavoured milk drinks were presented to them and served for their appreciation.

Before the conclusion of the meeting, the PCC and DLD delegates motored to Manila to pay a courtesy call to other BAI officials.