PGMA extends aid to boost productivity of Mindanao’s small agri producers
(May 2, 2007)
HEIGHTENED FOCUS ON MINDANAO’S AGRI. Vice President Noli de Casto delivers President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s message to Mindanao agricultural producers, processors and growers at the recent 1st Mindanao Agri and Food Convention in Cagayan de Oro City last April 23-25, 2007. PGMA affirms her commitment to support the agriculture sector in Mindanao prioritizing infrastructure, capability-building and marketing projects through the Department of Agriculture. Also in the photo (L-R) are Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, Chair of the Mindanao Economic Development Council
(MEDCo) and Engr. Edwin Andot, Convention Chairperson and President of the Chamber of Agriculture, Fisheries and Allied Industries (CAFFINORMIN).
|
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY– The Arroyo administration affirms its strong thrust to support small farmers, fisherfolks and agricultural producers of Mindanao as it lines up projects to improve agricultural productivity in the island-region and ensure food sustainability in the country.
In a message delivered by Vice-President Noli de Castro at the recently-concluded 1st Mindanao Agri and Food Convention (MAFCON) here last week, President Arroyo said that a total of P2.5 billion worth of funds has been allocated by the Department of Agriculture for irrigation projects which will generate employment for some 487,000 Mindanawons.
“Agriculture remains the backbone of our economy, so if you want to grow our economy faster and create more jobs, then we have to give our farmers and farm lands the attention they deserve,” the President’s message reads.
Speaking before 200 participants at the convention, Vice President De Castro relayed that a total of P5.5 billion has been earmarked for the construction of about 3,400 kilometer farm to market roads in Mindanao to ease up transportation as well as reduce delivery time and cost of food products from the farms to the market. The government has likewise committed to build entrepreneurial capacity of small agricultural producers in Mindanao by assisting them in market research, analysis and promotions.
Mindanao contributes to more than 30% of the country’s food requirement as one-third of its land is devoted to agriculture employing one-third also of the total labor force. Major crops are rubber, pineapple, banana, coffee, cassava, corn and coconut.
“The stability and prosperity of business and trade will result to creation of economic activities, jobs and employment opportunities. This means generation of incomes for the household and creation of new sources of revenue for the government so that it can better implement needed services, programs and projects,” said Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana, chair of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo).
Pinned on the theme, “Mindanao Agribusiness for the Philippines and the World Market,” agricultural growers and processors in Mindanao take a unified commitment to work on various initiatives that will improve their position in the global market.
In a declaration of commitment and support signed by various producer associations of Mindanao, one of the planned initiatives identified is to organize a Mindanao-wide Chamber of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industries that will ensure prioritization of issues of the local agri, fisheries and food producers.
They also plan to consolidate and update existing industry development plans to come up with a strong common framework in Mindanao, work closely with agencies and other concerned sectors in identification and implementation of projects, build partnerships and expand inter-activities among member-associations.
The said declaration of commitment was signed by representatives from the Chamber of Agriculture, Fisheries and Allied Industries (CAFFINORMIN), SOCKSARGEN Federation of Fishing and Allied Industries (SFFAII), Mindanao Fruit Industry Development Council (MinFruit), Paglas Group of Companies, CARAGA Oil Palm Producers Association, NorMin Poultry, Higaon Tribal Council of Northern Mindanao, Greater Mindanao Mango Development Foundation, Inc., NorMin Cassaya Industry Association, Banana Industry Development Association Region 10, NorMin Producers Association and Northern Mindanao Veggies Industry Association (NorMin Veggies).
DA Undersecretary Jesus Emmanuel Paras accepted the resolutions from the producers and assured them of the necessary support from the government.
“We have come to realize that unless we embrace the reality of a globalized market environment, unless we in the production sector upgrade our technologies and cultivation practices, unless we shift our mindsets to be more entrepreneurial in our approach to our farms, we will not successfully hurdle the necessary leap from traditional production to the more profitable world of agribusiness,” Engr. Edwin Andot, Convention Chairperson and President of CAFFINORMIN said.
CAFFINORMIN is a network of 26 industry associations that promotes championing stakeholders’ interest towards sustainable and globally competitive development.
The three-day activity which was held April 23-25, 2007 also included exhibits of agricultural products from Mindanao and tours to XU Manresa Farm, Philippine Ostrich and Crocodile Farm, Motherland, DarlingFood, Slers, and Pine Ham, Del Monte Plantation, Vegetable City and NORMIARC Stock Farm.
Among the exhibitors were AA BioTekh Ent. Co., Aboitez One, Inc., 2Go, San Miguel Foods, Inc., B-MEG and San Miguel Animal Health Care Products, Beta Foam Corp., Sagrex Corp., Bio-IBG Phil. Corp., C&T Water Enterprise Corp., DA-X/POPANORMIN, DTI X-One Town One Product, Fil-Am Foods, Inc., USAID-GEM, Mindanao Rural Development Program, Monsanto Phils., Inc./DEKALB, Netafim Phils., Philippine Development Assistance Programme, Star Kaser Trading Corp., Steag State Power Corp., Turquiose Turkish Restaurant, Univet/Vetracin Gold/Early Wean, Vitarich Corp., YSU Marketing/ASU.
Meanwhile, DA, NFC, USAID-GEM, MEDCo, CDOC, Province of Misamis Oriental and the Regional Development Council served as co-organizers of MAFCON with support from the National Economic Development Authority, Department of Tourism, Department of Interior and Local Government, DTI, Department of Agrarian Reform, PhilExport, NORMINSA, XUCA, and PRO.
| |
