WITH the agricultural sector being the most vulnerable from natural calamities, sustainable agricultural and increasing the food supply will be highlighted during the 20th Davao Agri Trade Expo (DATE).
“Our celebration however comes as a massive typhoon destroyed some P16 billion worth of crops, leaving the food supply of almost half of our population under threat,” DATE program chairman John Carlo Tria said during the kick-off of Date 2018 on Thursday, September 20, at SMX, SM Lanang Premier, Davao City.
Tria said the trade expo serves as a good avenue in raising the discourse in addressing the food supply in the country.
“Tomorrow (September 21, 2018) we will hold the agribusiness innovation conference where new ways of doing agriculture will be discussed,” Tria said.
Tria added aquaponics, new methods in financing, internet-based marketing are among the focus of the trade expo’s discussions.
“Along with new developments in block chain technology that will help finance new agribusiness ventures,” Tria said.
He added raising awareness to the farmers and agricultural entrepreneurs will help contribute in supplying better agricultural produce for the country. Also with the government’s participation, Filipinos will be able to fully benefit from a good agriculture sector.
“Nonetheless we see government moving quickly to address these concerns with prepositioned relief supplies getting to intended beneficiaries, and the Department of Agriculture (DA) flying plane loads of food from Mindanao to fill the gap in Luzon,” Tria said.
Date 2018 opened on Thursday, September 20, and will run until September 22 at the SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier, Davao City. The annual activity of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. will also hold seminars and conferences on the latest trends and good practices in the agriculture sector.