Agriculture

Ex-Agriculture Usec pushes adoption of high-density farming

BEYOND ELLIPTICALBy Rose Marie de la Cruz One of my former bosses at the Department of Agriculture, Ernesto Ordonez, wrote a column at the Inquirer recently pushing the adoption of high density farming in view of limited land and increasing global competition. Ordonez now chairs Agriwatch. For this to happen, he said, “we must harness our underutilized scientific community, which …

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DA hems and haws on onion imports

By Rose de la Cruz After the Bureau of Plant Industry recommended to its mother agency, the Department of Agriculture, that there are ample stocks of red and yellow onions enough to last even after March,, DA Secretary Francisco Tiiu Laurel announced he would allow 3,000 of red onions and 1,000 tons of yellow onions. In an article headlined, “Dwindling …

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2024 fisheries output lowest in 2 decades

Production of fisheries fell by 5 percent in 2024 to 4.05 million metric tons, the lowest in two decades based on data of the Philippine Statistics Authority. The PSA recorded total volume of fisheries in 2024 as lower than the 4.24 MMT in 2023 and the lowest since the 3.93 MMT posted in 2004. The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and …

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Tobacco export receipts shrank by 14.2% in 2024

The National Tobacco Administration reported that the country’s unmanufactured tobacco exports shrank by 14.2 percent in 2024 at 17.8 million kilograms from 20.75 MKg in 2023. The value of tobacco shipped dropped by 6.47 percent to $94.59 million in 2024 from $101.13 million in the previous year. NTA data also showed that Universal Leaf Philippines, Inc. (ULPI) as the top …

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DTI sees better prospects for other coco products in the US

With the delisting of coconut by the US Food and Drug Administration from the list of tree nuts classified as major food allergens, the Department of Trade and Industry sees demand for other coconut-based products rising in that market. Citing Mintel’s global new product database from 2018 to 2023, DTI-Export Marketing Bureau (EMB) Director Bianca Pearl Sykimte said there are more …

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FAO makes strong pitch for Nitrogen use

By Rose de la Cruz With most countries in the world actively pushing for nitrogen use in highly degraded soils, the reverse seems to be happening in the country. The Department of Agriculture seems to just be paying lip service to rejuvenating soils through biofertilizers and natural fertilizer ingredients, which one  local company (apparently not close to DA)  can adequately …

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Go Negosyo, Malaysian firm to push for new durian plantations

One of the pioneer agriculture companies of Go Negosyo’s development program for micro, small, and medium enterprises has inked an agreement with a Malaysian firm to put up new durian plantations in the country. Go Negosyo, the advocacy arm of the Philippine Center for Entrepreneurship (PCE), said Yovel East Research and Development Inc. had signed a memorandum of understanding with Malaysia’s …

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DA eyes P49/kg MSRP for imported rice

After getting bashed by all sectors  for its outrageous plan to impose a maximum suggested retail price of P58 per kg for imported rice, now the Department of Agriculture wants to adopt a lower MSRP of P49 beginning March. But that would hinge on a favorable pricing condition in the global market  to persist by then. During a market inspection …

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DA says egg farm project to provide stable supply

The Department of Agriculture is hoping to  boost egg production and ensure that most people would still be able to afford eggs, the cheapest and immediate food source and livelihood for many people. In a statement, the DA says it has set aside  P85-million funding to implement the chicken layer project or the LOVE project that would establish small-scale egg …

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Scientists warn that bird flu mutates faster than expected

A human strain of H5N1 bird flu isolated in Texas shows mutations enabling better replication in human cells and causing more severe disease in mice compared to a bovine strain. While the virus isn’t yet spreading between humans, experts warn of its potential to evolve and stress the need for antiviral preparedness and improved animal control measures. Researchers at Texas …

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