From fresh milk to sweet treats

DAIRY farmers of Ragay, Camarines Sur are being helped by the Departments of Agrarian Reform and Science and Technology to get better value from their dairy products besides fresh milk, by producing sweets like mazapan and toasted pastillas to expand their markets.

Mazapan is a dense, sweet confection made from milk and ground nuts or starch, traditionally shaped into small blocks and wrapped in cellophane.

Toasted pastillas, on the other hand, is a modern, baked twist on the classic Filipino milk candy (pastillas de leche). Instead of leaving the milk mixture soft and doughy, the candies are lightly baked or torched, creating a caramelized, crunchy outer crust while keeping the inside soft, milky, and chewy.

Through capacity-building training, members of the Catabangan Agrarian Reform Cooperative (Carco) recently learned how to turn their fresh milk into value-added treats such as mazapan and toasted pastillas held late last month.

Carco is known for producing pasteurized carabao milk, which is naturally rich, thick, and highly nutritious.

The activity was conducted under the Village Level Farm-focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) project of DAR Camarines Sur I, with assistance from DOST Camarines Sur. Moisha Mishael Dacara of DOST guided the farmers through the production process and shared techniques they can apply to their dairy enterprise.

The training is part of the second phase of VLFED implementation for Carco, as DAR Camarines Sur I continues to work with partner agencies to strengthen the cooperative’s production, processing, and marketing capabilities.

VLFED is a flagship DAR program that helps agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and their organizations increase their income and strengthen their enterprises by moving beyond the sale of raw farm products. The program supports farmers in value addition, production technology, processing, packaging, regulatory compliance, and market linkages.

For dairy farmers, this means having more opportunities to earn from their milk by developing products that can reach consumers in different forms and markets.

DAR Secretary Conrado M. Estrella III has emphasized the department’s continuing support for farmers by helping them not only secure land ownership but also develop sustainable livelihood opportunities that can improve their incomes and strengthen their organizations.

Carco General Manager Nancy Jaen said the continued assistance from DAR Camarines Sur I and its partner agencies has given the cooperative greater confidence to expand its dairy business.

“There is a big chance that our cooperative will become the primary, or possibly the sole supplier of pasteurized milk in the entire province,”Jaen said.

Fresh carabao milk is naturally rich in essential nutrients such as calcium, vitamin B12, riboflavin, phosphorus, and potassium, making it both a nutritious product and a promising raw material for Carco’s growing dairy enterprise.

From bottled fresh pasteurized milk to locally made milk-based treats, Carco is taking another step toward expanding its market beyond Ragay and eventually serving consumers across Camarines Sur.

With continued support from DAR, DOST, and other partners, the cooperative hopes to make its dairy products a stronger, more sustainable source of income for its farmer-members.