Agriculture

Foundations of business conglomerates like San Miguel Corp., Meralco and SM Corp. are competing with each other in popularizing urban farming, which makes a lot of sense in growing further their businesses while satisfying their employees’ needs for accessible food supply. It is not known  which one did it first, but which one of them has embraced urban farming as …

The Philippines retained its position as second top supplier of pineapple in the world in 2024 posting a double-digit growth on the back of booming demand from key Asian markets, according to an international report. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said pineapple shipments from the Philippines expanded by 14.1 percent to around 680,000 metric tons …

Rice imports this year would surpass  four-million metric tons as output would not be sufficient to meet demand by 17 percent, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. Based on  data obtained from the Department of Agriculture and other agencies, the projected import volume will address the projected supply shortfall of 2.653 MMT for the year. The Department of Economy, Planning …

BEYOND ELLIPTICALBy Rose Marie de la Cruz Here goes the Department of Agriculture (DA) again, being optimistic without taking into account current and future risks to standing crops and those to be harvested yet, in the face of storms, floods and landslides. From production to harvest, there are great risks to face. DA spokesman Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said …

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, …