MAFAR JOINS THE NATIONAL FOOD SECURITY SUMMIT 2021
COTABATO CITY | May 18, 2021
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) convenes the 2021 National Food Security Summit on May 18-19, 2021, to address the current issues hampering the development of the agriculture and fisheries sector in the Bangsamoro Region.
The workshop was attended thru virtual by Fifty-six individuals from MAFAR at the Bangsamoro Government Center, Cotabato City.
MAFAR Chief Agriculturist Tong Abas said that aside from addressing occurring problems in the region, the summit would help the ministry craft a region-wide food security plan to boost food production that will benefit farmers and fisherfolk.
Abas, however, mentioned that the ministry already held a region-wide food summit last May 6-7, wherein attention was given to the immediate issues and concerns that the nation needs to address in the Bangsamoro Region.
Abas encouraged the participants to recommend needed strategies and policies to resolve significant issues confronting the farming and fishing sectors and provide inputs to update commodity and industry roadmaps.
Meanwhile, Qu Dongyu Ph.D. will virtually keynote the summit’s plenary, along with William D. DAR, Ph.D., and Rodolfo V. Vicerra. With the theme “Food for Today beyond; Transforming Philippine Agriculture,” the summit also featured several top national and local government chief executives, including the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Presbitero J. Velasco, Jr., Governor of Marinduque, enumerated the increase of internal revenue allotment of the local government unit expected to be available in June 2022, Agriculture Development in all local government levels, and devolvement of agriculture extension workers.
Furthermore, Mohammad S. Yacob, Ph.D., Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Agrarian Reform, has met with Ms. Brenda Barton of World Food Programme, Representative and Country Director later activity.
Barton said that the direct plan is to expand the opportunities for farmers to turn into entrepreneurs, including women, to have livelihoods, hence become part of a productive society.
“You have the talent, abilities, and a beautiful rich land, all you need is a little bit of a hand to hold to move forward to a much better opportunity waiting for you, and the World Food Programme stands ready to do that,” Barton said.