Less than two months after the start of the Philippine Carabao Center (PCC)-funded Value Chain Analysis project (VCA) of carabao and carabao-based products, which was commissioned to SEARCA, the research team led by Dr. Flordeliza A. Lantican, a VCA specialist, has made headway in accomplishing some of the requirements of the project. The inception report prepared by the team leader was presented to the PCC officials, represented by Dr. Liza Battad and Mr. Eric Palacpac. After recognizing the wide coverage of the project, which includes two separate VCAs for carabao milk and milk products and meat (carabeef), it was decided that the Study will concentrate in Regions 1, 2, 3, and 4A in Luzon for Phase 1.

Eight different sets of questionnaires covering farmers producing milk and those selling live animals for slaughtering into meat, processors of milk and milk products, livestock traders, wholesaler-retailers and retailers of milk, butchers in slaughterhouses, auction markets, meat dealers/wholesalers, and retailers were also prepared by the team. The pre-testing of questionnaires for farmers and processors was conducted in March 2015 in General Trias, Cavite.

Upon the request of the PCC management, Dr. Lantican delivered a lecture on VCA to more than 50 PCC personnel and key officials, headed by its Executive Director, Dr. Arnel del Barrio in March 2015. The lecture highlighted the similarities and differences of supply chains and value chains, rationale for using the value chain approach, requirements for creating a functional value chain, and the four major elements of the VCA framework..

The research team is scheduled to gather primary and secondary data for carabao milk and milk products and carabeef in Region 1 on 7-27 April 2015, before moving to Regions 2, 3, and 4A.