THE Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (Mafar) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Barmm) spearheaded the conduct of the first Barmm Food Security Summit.
The two-day Food Security Summit was held from December 10 to 12 in Cotabato City.
Mafar Minister Mohammad Yacob said they discussed during the summit the current challenges affecting food security, presented programs and projects that are geared towards addressing the challenges, and bringing together support and agreements to pave way for a profitable agriculture and fishery sector.
“We have carried out the development of the first Bangsamoro security road map - envisioning a self-reliant, food secure and resilient Bangsamoro. This will ensure that food is accessible, available, utilized and stable for every Bangsamoro,” Yacob said.
He also said the road map is anchored in three pillars of food security--sustainable, competitive, and accessible food supply chain for the Bangsamoro.
He emphasized that there should be “balanced intake of halal food and adaptive capacity of Bangsamoro communities.”
One of the highlights of the activity was the display of the 32 exhibits that featured various agricultural crops and products from all over Barmm.
Yacob said they signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) during the first day of the summit with the Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE) headed by Minister Mohagher Iqbal for the program called “Gulayan sa Paaralan”.
The program, which aims to boost the awareness of the young children on the significance of growing vegetables, is expected to be established in 200 schools in Barmm.
Under the project, vegetables should be organically-grown in plots and in empty containers to minimize expenses.
It seeks to supplement the food given to students in the school’s supplemental feeding program.
The summit, held in partnership with the Department of Agriculture– Halal Food Industry Development Program, is anchored on the theme “Bangsamoro ay Paunlarin: Masaganang Ani, Mataas na Kita, Halal at Organikong Pagkain ay Siguruhin.” (SunStar Zamboanga)