On April 15, R-10 stages the Food Security Summit gathering industry leaders and key stakeholders to tackle issues and concerns besetting the agri sector and translating these into action plans towards a food secure and resilient Philippines with empowered and prosperous farmers and fisherfolk.

 

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – After the conduct of a series of its provincial editions, the agriculture department in Northern Mindanao (DA-10) staged the Regional Food Security Summit on April 15, in the city to foment development to the country’s agricultural and fishery sector.

Bearing the theme: “Food for Today and Beyond: Transforming Philippine agriculture”, said activity gathered industry leaders and key stakeholders to tackle issues and concerns besetting said sector towards a food secure and resilient Philippines with empowered and prosperous farmers and fisherfolk.

“Such effort is geared to continue in boosting and developing the agri-fishery sector through the cooperation, coordination and collaboration of the local government units (LGUs) and the private sector’s industry players,” said DA-10 Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado before the summit delegates attending virtually and on-site.

Mustered participants included officials and representatives from DA’s Regional Management Committee and line agencies, LGUs, the private sector, agricultural and fishery councils, other government agencies and the academe.

Discussions centered on identifying action plans to level up the region’s priority commodities such as swine, corn, rice, goat, free range chicken, sugarcane, aquaculture and capture fisheries under DA’s ‘new normal’ direction or its twelve key strategies.

The cited inclusive approach includes the expansion of farm clustering and social protection measures; implementation of province-led agriculture and fisheries extension systems; construction of agro-industrial business corridors; consolidation of infrastructure investments; upgrading of postharvest, processing, logistics, and marketing support; and adoption of digital agriculture.

Also, it covers the aggressive pursuit of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures; escalation of global trade, export development, and promotion; intensification of food safety protocols and regulations; mobilization and empowerment of partners; promotion of ‘ease of doing business’ and transparent procurement; and support for strategic communications.

RED Collado also emphasized, the solicited inputs at the regional level heeds to the focus of the current administration in adopting the whole-of-government approach to aid in the crafting of a national food security plan.

While recognizing the challenges affecting the agri industry, ranging from the onslaught of African Swine Fever, upsurge in pork prices, drop in the farmgate buying price for rice and corn, harmful algal bloom occurrence, among other concerns which are exacerbated by pandemic, he highlighted in putting premium of providing food for the Filipino people.

“Consumers should have continuous flow of food while producers should have continuous productivity, unhampered movement of agricultural commodities, accessibility and price stability,” he added.

All these, the agri executive further noted, will help pave the way for NorMin in pursuing major programs and activities towards contributing in the country’s bid of a modest agri-fishery sector growth pegged at 2.5 percent. # (JLO)