Tuesday, April 10, 2007 New infra project to assist food producers
BELIEVING that the current gains in investments and trade should be brought down to the grassroots and help address poverty in the country, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is embarking on a wide range of programs to uplift the productivity and quality of life of farmers and fisherfolks.
In his recent presentation before members of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines Agribusiness Committee, Assistant Secretary Salvador Salacup said his department has invested in and will continue to fund projects that will create immediate positive impact to the poor.
Infrastructure
As part of setting up irrigation facilities and infrastructure, Salacup reported that the DA is implementing the Candaba Water Resource Project and the Rehabilitation of the Navotas Fish Port.
On postharvest and storage systems, the DA proposed to provide municipal fishery cooperatives and associations with 150 units of stationary and mobile
ice plants, ice storage facilities, 10 refrigerated vans, cold storages and other facilities which are identified as part of the cold chain.
To enhance market access of agri-based products, the DA negotiated for a 5,000-square-meter space for Philippine fresh fruit and vegetable products at the Jiangnan Wholesale Market for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, the biggest wholesale market in Guangzhou, China.
Energy
It is also facilitating the supply of 100,000 metric tons of coco coir to the Zongbao Fiber Company.
Part of the income diversification is the thrust to attract new investments, according to Salacup. At the DA, this campaign has so far enabled four bioethanol plants to operate within four months in Murcia and Kabankalan, Oriental Negros, Northern Palawan and Lalo, Cagayan.
A 40,000-hectare cassava and sugarcane plantation in Cagayan Valley and Isabela is also being considered for development.
The DA has likewise identified a one million-hectare land for hybrid corn, hybrid rice and hybrid sorghum.(Philexport News)
