By Myris Lee
The Philippines and India discussed new ties on agriculture, particularly on rice production and sustainable food production.
In the April 25 Laging Handa briefing, Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Fermin Adriano said the Philippines will benefit from India being the world’s third largest rice producer exporter.
“Kapag tiningnan mo po ‘yung India, siya po ‘yung number three sa producers ng rice sa buong daigdig. At isang major player din po siya sa pag-produce ng trigo o wheat,” Adriano added.
“Lider din po siya sa maraming farm technology, katulad noong satellite imaging technology. Ano iyong satellite imaging? Pwede niyang tingnan ‘yung sakahan ng every seven days, makikita niya kung paano tumutubo, kung nataniman ba,” he continued.
DA Secretary William Dar visited India on April 22 to meet with India Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar.
“Pati doon sa fertilizers na inorganic, bio-fertilizer, lider din po ang India. Kaya ‘yung pagbisita ni secretary ay nakatuon para tayo ay magkaroon ng access. Kasi kung magkaroon ng kakulangan ng mga bigas na pandaigdigan, kasi hindi pa tayo self-sufficient sa bigas, 92% pa lang. Dati kasi 87%, napataas ni secretary ng 92%. Kung nag-tighten ang suplayan, makakakuha tayo sa India,” Adriano said.
With the rising prices of chemical fertilizers in the world market, compounded by the Russia-Ukraine crisis, DA is compelled to use a combination of organic and inorganic fertilizers, Adriano added.
“Ngayon tight nga ‘yung wheat [supply], kinakailangan nating mag-diversify ng source, ‘yung India ang [isang supplier]. Tapos ‘yung fertilizer, isa rin pong [supplier] ang India, lalo na sa inorganic, ‘yung pagtungo niya doon ay para magkaroon tayo ng bilateral agreement sa mga areas na ‘yun, including ‘yung satellite technology,” he stressed.
“Yun po ang kailangang-kailangan, lalo na itong mataas ang presyo ng fertilizer, kinakailangan natin ‘yung petroleum-based, kinakailangan natin na magkaroon ng inorganic fertilizer.”
DA also visited Prasad Seeds Private Limited (PSSL) to expand the company’s presence in the Philippines in order to boost the country’s agriculture production and to provide more job opportunities for Filipinos.
DA said PSSL showed their willingness to share their new systems and technologies to help the Filipino farmers and local agribusinesses in the Philippines. – gb
