ASIDE from being a benchmark for agricultural technologies and practices, Taiwan is also seen as a potential export market for Negros Occidental.
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino, at the sidelines of the Philippine-Taiwan Agriculture Forum in Bacolod City on Wednesday, April 14, said the provincial government is currently strengthening its relationship with Taiwan especially among groups there working on agriculture development.
Masculino said Negros Occidental is a potential source of agricultural products like fruits and other high value crops which can be exported to Taiwan.
“Taiwan has more efficient technologies. If we can replicate it, we can be a better producer of these agricultural products,” he said, adding that “we can then export not only in Taiwan but also to other countries.
During the forum, the Taiwanese delegation composed of different private sector groups presented their best agriculture practices. One of which is supporting the development of young farmers.
Taiwan’s Council of Agriculture is allocating five million dollars or P8.5 million as credit lines to support each of the selected 100 outstanding young farmers every year.
These are on top of the efforts of various groups supporting the growth of their agriculture industry, particularly engaging young people in farming.
Masculino said if the government in the country can replicate such program then it can also encourage young people to engage in agriculture.
The provincial agriculturist said “aging farmers” is also a problem in the Philippine agriculture. The average age for farmers here is 60 years old.
“We hope that young Filipinos including Negrenses consider farming as profitable endeavor,” he said, adding that young generations have been looking at farming as a tiring job.
Earlier, Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr. has expressed optimism to boost cooperation with Taiwan particularly for the development of the province’s agriculture sector.
Marañon said Taiwan and Negros Occidental should have a very close coordination because they have many things in common.
The province can also produce the agricultural crops like pineapples, mushrooms, and vegetables which the foreign country grows, he said.
“But they grow it there in Taiwan in most efficient and very scientific way,” the governor had said, expressing hope that Taiwanese can also share their agriculture expertise to Negrenses.