Agriculture

Bamboo has been gaining popularity for its diverse uses and applications around the globe, which is searching for sustainable and climate-friendly solutions for development. Bamboo is the future, said Luiz Felipe Lopez, general manager of Base Bahay Foundation Inc. (BASE) in a recent huddle with reporters at the Bamboost IV Forum held at De La Salle University recently. The Philippines …

The United Coconut Associations of the Philippines (UCAP) sees the 20% tariff imposed by the US government to the Philippines as a ‘wake-up call that underlines the need for market and product diversification. UCAP underscored the current heavy reliance of the Philippines on the US and European Union markets, which collectively account for over 60% of industry exports.      …

Tycoon Manuel V. Pangilinan has bought into the country’s oldest coconut processor, Franklin Baker (founded in 1921), that operates processing facilities in Laguna and Davao to fortify his firm’s presence in the coconut export sector. Using the Metro Pacific Agro Ventures Inc. (MPAV), a unit under Metro Pacific Investment Corp., Pangilinan confirmed signing the agreement buying into Franklin Baker to …

BEYOND ELLIPTICALBy Rose Marie de la Cruz Returning legislator Francis Pangilinan has shown his undying dedication to agriculture and the farming sector by making agriculture and ending hunger among his priority bills in the House of Representatives. Pangilinan previously served as senator from 2001 to 2013 and from 2016 to 22 and was the Senate majority floor leader from 2004 …

By Rose de la Cruz Hotels, restaurants, fastfood chains and even the lowly carinderia  should  have ample and sustainable supply of yellow onions. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said  that shipments would come as early as August, now that local harvest have almost been completed and with inventories expected to be depleted by next month. The DA would allow …

Beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) flagship  Walang Gutom Program (WGP) can now purchase rice at just P20 per kilo, following a strategic partnership with the Department of Agriculture (DA) under the Kadiwa ng Pangulo initiative. The collaboration, dubbed “Benteng Bigas, Meron Na sa WGP,” is a key step in President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s anti-hunger campaign, …

The Sugar Regulatory Administration is allowing the importation of 434,000 metric tons of refined sugar to boost domestic supply and buffer stock to stave off spiralling prices following the end of the milling season. In Sugar Order No. 8, authorizing the importation, the SRA said the end of milling season and the finite supply of sugar prompted the decision to …

BEYOND ELLIPTICALBy Rose Marie de la Cruz Escalating conflict between Iran and Israel– highlighted by the recent bombing of three Iranian nuclear facilities– would certainly bring supply imbalances for fertilizers, chemicals and other petrochemical products that would have far reaching effects on industries and agriculture.  An analysis done by SUR+ International, a global leader in trading excess chemical inventory and …

The red-striped soft-scale insect (RSSI) affecting sugar plantations in four provinces has damaged 1,505.82 hectares as of June 18– from just 87.04 hectares last May 22, prompting the Sugar Regulatory Administration to advise local government units affected to declare a state of calamity on these infected plantations. The affected barangays rose to 79 from 24 while affected farmers increased to …

The Philippine Coconut Authority was sent a tall order to plant 50 million coconut trees by 2026 amid rising global demand for coconut products particularly for nutritional and pharmaceutical industries and to enable the country to regain its reputation as a top producer and exporter of this product. The President wanted  ordered the Department of Agriculture to ensure that this …