27/04/2026
ARBO beneficiaries gears up for carapreneurship
To enhance farmers’ technical competencies in buffalo herd management, dairy production, and sustainable farming practices, farmers from the Asenso Pinmilapil Farmers Association Inc., Agrarian Reform Beneficiary Organization (ARBO), participated in a comprehensive two-day Buffalo Production and Management Training held on April 15-16, 2026.
The training was spearheaded by the DA-PCC at DMMMSU in collaboration with the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Pangasinan. ARBOs, which were established as part of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), give recipients access to livelihood programs, collective land management, and financial and technical assistance.
Led by GIP Coordinator Reynaldo Paneda, the activity was designed to provide participants with essential knowledge and hands-on skills on how to efficiently manage buffalo farming activities.
Topics included were breeding, nutrition, disease control, and hygienic milk handling practices. The training was not only about improving productivity but also about safeguarding animal health and ensuring profitability through sustainable practices.
“We want our farmers to see buffalo production not just as traditional livestock raising but as a viable enterprise that can uplift their communities,” Paneda emphasized.
The training combined lecture-discussions, video presentations, and interactive Q&A sessions with practical exposure through farm visitation. Center staff highlighted the importance of proper nutrition, disease prevention, and breeding techniques in ensuring healthy herds and consistent milk yields.
One of the highlights of the program was the farm visit in Rockyside Integrated Farm and Dairy Box located in Rosario La Union, where participants observed firsthand the operations of a successful dairy farm. Farmers were able to see modern practices in action such as using milking machines for the milk collection. They also experienced how to milk a buffalo manually which at first were numbing, but overtime becomes manageable.
However, Armando Ladia, a former DA-PCC at DMMMSU staff, explained, “It's really hard to pump milk at first, but it just takes practice.” He also demonstrated the proper way of hand milking a buffalo. By his demonstration, the farmers and DAR staff were enticed to try.
After the demonstration, Annalyn Tade, carapreneur of Rockyside Integrated Farm shared her inspirational messages to the farmers.
“Taking care of an animal is not automatic, it needs to work. It does not give an automatic outcome when you just started with one animal. Starting with one animal will progress us into an enterprise built from the lowest level.”
The visit allowed them to connect theory with practice, reinforcing the lessons learned during lectures.
Dairy Box Elyu were also one of the places they visited. Tade showcased their food processing facilities, which includes the milk processing area and the baking area, and marketing outlet. As of today, the Dairy Box Elyu begun transitioning to using machines like pasteurizer and homogenizer but she said, “These machines were just a risky investment. However, before any of these, we started our processing facility with only using ten double boilers for our processing of milk drinks.”
Their visit to the dairy box showed them the possibility of building an enterprise through dairy farming. The testimonies from Annalyn Tade showed how a small processing facility builds to becoming a buffalo dairy enterprise.
Additionally, the training focused on how buffalo production may improve socioeconomic conditions, especially in the establishment of dairy enterprises, which can give rural families a stable source of income.
Participants expressed optimism about the future of buffalo farming in their community. Dominga Madriaga, one of the ARBO beneficiaries, shows her excitement on learning new things.
“It is a great feeling to learn more things about buffalo management, especially in milking the buffaloes where we experience firsthand how to properly do hand milking,” she stated.
The farmers now know more clearly how to properly care for buffaloes and how their association can turn dairy production into a sustainable source of income. Stronger dairy businesses in Sison, Pangasinan are anticipated to result from the training, boosting rural economic development and food security.
[By Jessabel Galiste]
