AGRI EXPORTS SA CANADA PALALAWAKIN

SA harap ng pagpapaigting sa economic at trade relations ng Filipinas sa Canada, target ng Department of Agriculture (DA) na palawakin ang pag-export ng  farm at fishery products sa naturang bansa.

“We wish to improve our balance of trade with Canada in succeeding years by selling more Filipino products like coconut water, virgin coconut oil or VCO, pineapples, mangoes, and melons,” wika ni Agriculture Secretary William Dar sa isang virtual courtesy call ni bagong Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Peter MacArthur,.

Sina Secretary Dar at Ambassador MacArthur ay nagkasundo na isulong at palawakin ang nagpapatuloy na agricultural cooperation at partnership, partikular sa potato, dairy, food logistics at market, at agro-forestry ng dalawang bansa.

Noong 2019, ang Filipinas ay nakapag-export sa Canada ng halos US$98.8 million na halaga ng farm at fishery products, sa pangunguna ng coconut products, na may kabuuang $23.8M; pineapples, dried guavas, mangoes at mangosteen – $10.3M; at bangus at  tuna – $9.4M.

Sa may isang milyong Filipino na naninirahan at nagtatrabaho sa Canada — kumakatawan sa 2.7 percent ng 37.7 M populasyon ng bansa, batay sa pinakahuling pagtaya— ang demand para sa iba’t ibang Philippine food products ay inaasahang tataas.

Samantala, ang Canada ay nag-export  noong 2019 ng $192-M halaga ng iba’t ibang food products, sa pangunguna ng frozen swine meat at offals – $57.3M; deboned meat, hams, at iba pang meat products – $20M; potatoes – $11.6M; at pig fat – $6.7M.

“We are pleased to know that the first phase of adaptation trials of eight Canadian potato varieties in Natubleng, Buguias, Benguet province were completed, and the second phase will commence starting October,” sabi ni Secretary Dar.

“If the adaptation trials would succeed, yielding quality and cost-efficient potatoes than traditional varieties, Cordillera farmers could subsequently produce their own seed pieces instead of relying on importation, and produce in commercial quantities of potatoes for both table and processing use.”

Ang trials ay magkatuwang na ipinatutupad ng Cordillera Administrative Region at high-value crops development program ng DA, ng Prince Edward Island Potato Board ng Canada at ng Embahada ng Canada.

Nagpasalamat din si Dar sa partnership sa hanay ng DA sa pamamagitan ng National Dairy Authority (NDA), Dairy Confederation of the Philippines (DCP), at Dairy Pro ng CGW Canada, Inc., upang mapalakas ang kapasidad ng DCP member cooperatives sa Batangas at Laguna sa dairy production, processing, at marketing.

Sa kanyang panig, tiniyak ni Ambassador MacArthur ang pagtulong sa Duterte administration sa pamamagitan ng  DA sa pagtatayo ng producers’ markets at pagpapatupad ng agro-forestry program para sa kapakinabangan ng mahihirap na komunidad sa bansa.

“We are counting on staunch partners like Canada as the Duterte administration embarks on our Plant, Plant, Plant program to realize our vision of a food-secure and resilient Philippines with prosperous farmers and fisherfolk,” pagwawakas ni Dar.