Negros Occidental, entered into a memorandum of understanding with two dairy farm owners, Petrus Nicolaas Smit and Evan Gregory, in New Zealand last week to develop a dairy industry in the province.

The province was represented by Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena and Board Member Nehemias de la Cruz and the agreement was witnessed by Emiliana Pe Shi, Consul General, ad honorem of the Honorary Consulate General of the Philippines in Auckland, New Zealand, Decena said.

The agreement provides that the province will send five experts in technical field, dairying, pasture development, product marketing, and milk production and processing, Decena also said.

The dairy owners will then provide breeder stocks, dairy equipment and supplies, technical expertise, and the technology for dairy production to the province, he said.

Smit, owner and director of Dutchy Farms Ltd, was a resource speaker of the province during the Food for Peace Festival in December last year.

Gregory, owner of Challenge Livestock who visited the Negros First Ranch and other provincial farms last May with Smit, appeared to be impressed by the way the province started its project for livestock raisers.

Decena said Smit and Gregory were amazed on the programs of the province in developing the livestock industry which prompted them to partnership with the province.

The technology derived from the training will be implemented in the province and added that Smit and Gregory are serious in helping the Negros Occidental and to have a long term partnership in terms of dairy development, Decena said.

They want to invest their resources in the province because they see the potentials of Negros Occidental in dairy production at the same time helping the farmers in their livelihood, he also said.

The dairy farmers also want to impart the nutritional development of New Zealand through dairy and milk production, Decena added.

In New Zealand, the government provides free milk to all children and with the same program, the province will be able to address the nutritional problems of school children, he said.

He added that the province is producing milk and other dairy products but they have problems with the marketing.

They will also send experts from New Zealand and offered to manage the farms themselves to for a successful operation, he said, adding that this venture will be the gateway for the province to become the satellite breeding farms for cattle and sheep of New Zealand.*LTG

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