Bicol Federation of Dairy Cooperatives

BICOL FEDERATION OF DAIRY COOPERATIVES 1. Contact Name organization: Bicol Federation of Dairy Cooperatives (BFDC) Address of main office: CBSUA Compound, San Jose, Pili, Camarines Su Municipality, Province: Pili, Camarines Sur Website (FB page): https://www.facebook.com/Bicol-Federation-of-Dairy-Cooperative-Official- Fanpage-423884264339790/ Email address: [email protected] Contact person: Santiago Cervantes (chairperson within the organization) Email: [email protected] Phone number: 054-4777200 Cellphone number: 09993949969 2. Organization Kind of organization: cooperative Area of coverage (municipalities/provinces…): Province of Camarines Sur in __ municipalities- Naga City, Pili, Tigaon, Goa, Sangay, Calabanga, Ocampo, Libmanan, Minalabac, Del Gallego Number of members: Regular members- 8 primary cooperatives; Affiliate members- 5 farmers agricultural association, 1 women’s association and 1 agricultural youth association. Total individual members of the cooperatives and associations: 4,685 members (membership includes 2,284 women and 564 youth). Short history: BFDC is a secondary cooperative engaged in dairy milk production, processing, and marketing. It started as an alliance of dairy producers in 2008 which was transformed into a federation of cooperatives in 2010 and started operating a dairy processing plant established with the support of the Land O Lakes Foundation in partnership with the Central Bicol State University of Agriculture. In 2006, the Land O Lakes Foundation aside from constructing a dairy processing plant also distributed about 300 dairy cattle animals as the sources of raw milk and in order to sustain the operation of the plant. The plant was operated with the purpose of promoting nutrition and supplying milk for the feeding program of the government and other NGOs. Through the support of Trias and other stakeholders, the plant has evolved into a business which now look into the sustainability of the operation and to improve household income of the dairy farmers. Some highlights and realizations: To become successful in the dairy enterprise, it is important to continuously strengthen the capacity of BFDC to manage the dairy processing plant in a business manner and at the same time to support the farmers in their dairy farming since they are the primary source of raw milk. BFDC is now targeting purposively the inclusion of women, youth and subsistence farmers and small scale entrepreneurs which they did not do in the past years. Vision: “Strong, profitable, sustainable and largest Dairy Federation composed of economically and socially improved dairy farmers that produces, processes and distributes fresh milk products in the bicol region catering to the needs of dairy men and women.” Mission: Enhancing the technical, social and economic capacities of the dairy farmers as producers of quality fresh milk addressing malnutrition in the region and sustaining the needs of the local markets” Programs/activities/services: 1.Dairy processing and marketing 2. Operates a trading post where BFDC’s dairy products are sold including products of individual members of the primary cooperatives and products other cooperatives. 3. Technical support to dairy farmers- assistance of paravet, trainings related to dairy farming e.g. animal husbandry, pasture development, good manufacturing practices 4. Organizing primary cooperative to become member of BFDC and institutional strengthening . Networks: The organization is a well-networked organization working in councils/organizations on all levels and also in government (national x provincial). For more information, see the table. 3. Sharing and needs 1. The organization is strong in and can help others with: Technical knowledge on dairy farming, raw milk production and processing Organic farming Lobbying, advocacy, networking 2. The organization is searching for help in : Increase in supply of raw milk to BFDC’s processing plant, thus, there is a need to increase the number of dairy cattles. BFDC needs financial institutions and other institutions who can support dairy farmers in acquiring dairy cattles especially for the subsistence farmers. Marketing- once supply of raw milk will increase to maximize the production capacity of the plant Financial access of subsistence farmers so they can grow agricultural crops such as organic vegetables, and small scale entrepreneurs-members so they can start or upscale their business. Upgrading/expansion of plant facilities- few years from now when production capacity of the plant is maximized. .

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