The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it will pursue more collaborations on agriculture with France.
DA said this was discussed during the courtesy visit of French ambassador to the Philippines and Micronesia Michí¨le Boccoz to Senior Undersecretary Domingo Panganiban last week.
The agency said at the meeting, Boccoz put emphasis on farm mechanization, development of the dairy industry, irrigation and agricultural insurance as some of the new possible areas for collaboration between the Philippines and France.
In 2017, the DA and the French Ministry of Agriculture, Agrifood and Forestry, signed an administrative agreement aimed at strengthening the two countries’ approach to areas of common interest, which include the promotion of sustainable agricultural practices, food safety and security, development of the livestock sector, creation of wholesale markets, sanitation and technical cooperation.
The agreement also led to the creation of the Philippine-France Joint Steering Committee on Agriculture.
DA said the joint committee is set to meet again early next year to promote bilateral trade and cooperation in agriculture and discuss specific initiatives, as well as to facilitate linkages between relevant French and Philippine stakeholders
Under the partnership, France provides financial assistance apart from technical assistance grants, market opportunities and irrigation projects to the Philippines. – Jed Macapagal
