Four dairy farmers in New Zealand expressed interest in partnering with and investing in the province of Negros Occidental in dairy production, Provincial Veterinarian Dr. Renante Decena said yesterday.

The dairy farmers from Auckland and Hamilton, New Zealand visited the breeding centers and the Negros First Ranch in Sta. Rosa, Murcia and were impressed by the way the province started project for livestock raisers, Decena said.

“They want to provide their dairy farming technology and transfer it to Negros and they are very interested in the dairy project of Gov. Alfredo Marañon, Jr.,” Decena said.

He said the investors were from Challenge Livestock, Dutchy Farm Ltd, and the two dairy farmers from Hamilton.

He also said they are drafting an agreement with the four investors but also need to see the technology they will get from them as New Zealand uses more advanced technology in dairy production compared to other countries.

He also said they plan to bring five farmers to New Zealand to be trained hands-on in dairy production.

The investors learned about the dairy project of the province through Petrus Nicolaas Smit, director and owner of Dutchy Farm Ltd, whose wife is a Negrense, Decena also said.

Smit was one of the guest lecturers during the Negros First Livestock and Food for Peace Festival in December 2011.

He added that these investors supply dairy animals to China, Malaysia, and Fiji. *LTG

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