NAGKASUNDO ang Pilipinas at Lao PDR na muling palakasin ang pagtutulungan sa agrikultura.
Si Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. ay nakipagpulong kay Lao PDR Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Linkham Douangsavanh sa World Food Forum sa Rome, Italy noong nakaraang Oktubre 14 kung saan tinalakay nila ang posibilidad ng paglagda sa isang memorandum of understanding (MOU) na naglalayong palakasin ang food security at isulong ang pangmatagalang agricultural development.
“The proposed agreement marks a significant step forward in strengthening agricultural cooperation with our Asean partner, Lao PDR… It will provide a framework for collaboration on a wide range of agricultural issues,” sabi ni Tiu Laurel.
Ayon sa DA, ang paglagda sa MOU ay target isagawa sa susunod na taon.
“The MOU outlines several key initiatives, including Technology and Knowledge Sharing: Establishing a joint genetic bank for rice development to promote innovation in crop cultivation; ASEAN Food Security Promotion:
Collaborating to bolster the overall food security of the ASEAN region; Value Chain Improvement: Enhancing the value chains for various agricultural products, including rice, corn, coffee, fruit trees, tea, livestock, and fisheries; Sustainable Water Management: Implementing best practices for efficient water usage in agriculture; Research and Development: Joint efforts to tackle agricultural challenges through shared research initiatives; Climate Change Mitigation:Developing strategies to address the impacts of climate change on agricultural productivity; Pest Management: Prioritizing effective pest control practices to safeguard crops; at Agri-food Trade Promotion:
Facilitating trade in agricultural products like rice, sugarcane, and coffee, as well as addressing imported commodities in the Philippines,” ayon sa DA.
Ang panukalang kasunduan ay hudyat ng commitment ng dalawang bansa na isulong ang matatag na sektor ng agrikultura sa dalawang bansa at sa reihyon ng Southeast Asia.
Base sa datos na nalikom ng Observatory of Economic Complexity, hanggang end-2022, ang most purchased commodity ng Pilipinas mula Lao PDR ay potassic fertilizers na nagkakahalaga ng $6.46 million. Ma. Luisa Macabuhay-Garcia