The Philippine carabao, classified as a swamp-type buffalo, is a major contributor to the total agricultural economy of the country. Its main economic beneficiaries are the smallhold farmers, who own 99% of this important animal resource. The volume of meat production from this sub-sector reached 125,140 tonnes in 2001, valued at P5.19 billion at current prices. Milk and hide are estimated to be valued at P0.30 billion and P0.095 billion, respectively. The larger contribution of the sub-sector was in terms of yield of major crop production, where carabao provided significant draft power requirement at an estimated value of P8.16 billion.
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