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 …
Read More »
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 …
Read More »
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 …
Read More »
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 …
Read More »
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 …
Read More »
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 …
Read More »
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 …
Read More »
BEYOND ELLIPTICAL By Rose Marie de la Cruz Former Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Cielito Habito (now a columnist for Inquirer) wrote recently about the youth and agriculture and why it is so difficult to attract young people to go into farming (not as farm laborer) — a path where they could become their own bosses and where their creativity and curiosity …
Read More »
By Rose de la Cruz Weather permitting, the Department of Agriculture is hopeful that this year’s harvest of 20.46 million metric tons would surpass the record in 2023 of 20 MMT. But in a La Nina year, where either abundant rainfall or very hot weather could prevail, DA Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said he is optimistic about achieving bumper rice …
Read More »
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has allotted P85.19 million to establish a network of egg production facilities for small-scale growers. In Memorandum Order No. 2, the DA said the program will fund the construction of small-scale egg production facilities as a Livelihood Opportunities and Viable Enterprise project, Business World reported. “The Chicken Layer Project involves the establishment of small egg …
Read More »
The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business