The Department of Agriculture (DA) is optimistic about forging more partnerships with the European Union (EU) and South Korea following recent meetings.
Domingo Panganiban, DA senior undersecretary, met with delegates of the EU-Asean Business Council and the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines last week to discuss matters of mutual interests in agricultural development, foreign trades and investments, economic growth and other potential areas of cooperation.
In a statement, Panganiban said among those discussed were the need to address the high prices of sugar in the local market as well as efforts toward food security in the Philippines, which include promoting opportunities in agriculture among the youth.
The DA also discussed the current review on key commodity investment plans through the Philippine Rural Development Project and the promotion of accessible and affordable healthcare for local agricultural laborers and their families.
It also cited efforts to improve local food production and competitiveness while opening the country’s doors to collaborative activities with the EU and other foreign partners.
The DA mentioned in the meeting with EU representatives that since the Philippines ranked as the top country with the highest disaster risk worldwide under the World Risk Index 2022, immediate mitigations are required to limit the impacts of climate change in its agri-fishery sector.
“Increased cooperation and foreign investments spell more jobs, higher incomes, better access to basic commodities, less inflation collaboration and partnership over confrontation.
The more unbounded the flow of both, the stronger the momentum for economic prosperity and peace among nations,” Panganiban said.
The DA met separately with officials of the Korea Agricultural Machinery Industry Cooperative (KAMICO), a federation of Korean agricultural machinery manufacturers with about 700 companies as members.
The DA said the meeting with KAMICO is meant to discuss the proposed establishment of a 20-hectare farm machinery and equipment assembly plant in the Philippines.
According to KAMICO, apart from machineries, it can assist the Philippines by sharing technology or innovations for cultivating fruits like mango and strawberries as well as the Korean orchard farming method.
