Local milk production is expected to get a boost in Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte, with at least 50 crossbred female buffaloes that the local government unit purchased to boost dairy farming in the area.

Funded by the local government through its share in tobacco excise tax, dairy farming is among the agri-ventures being developed in the municipality to boost the livelihood of farmers, particularly in Barangay Caparispisan where the farm is located.

The dairy farm is a key component of an agro-industrial hub being developed on a government-owned lot spanning some 11 hectares.

“Through this project, we hope to open up more opportunities to our constituents by giving them an alternative source of income,” Pagudpud Mayor Rafael Ralph Benemerito said in an interview on Tuesday.

The initiative aims to boost calf and milk yields, supporting a sustainable dairy industry and helping the province achieve self-sufficiency in milk production.

Farmers will also be trained on dairy production.

The agro-industrial hub will also build a coconut processing facility to produce virgin coconut oil, along with handicrafts made from coconut shells.

Since 2023, the Pagudpud local government has been partnering with various agencies, such as the Department of Agriculture and Philippine Coconut Authority, to revitalize its agriculture sector. (PNA)