Aiming to increase agri-fishery production and farmers' incomes, the Department of Agriculture has joined hands with agri-based companies to ensure the availability and accessibility of food in the country.
Agriculture Secretary William Dar met with the members of the “Pilipinas Kontra Gutom,” a national movement comprised of government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private companies, to discuss their programs this year to ensure the availability and accessibility of food, secure nutrition adequacy, and provide assistance to farmers and fisherfolk.
The "Pilipinas Kontra Gutom" focuses on four areas namely market and financing access; policy advocacy; improving logistics; and education, aimed at elevating farming as a dignified and sustainable profession. Each area is led by a team of professional, competent private sector implementers.
The private organizations and companies include: Aboitiz, Pilmico, Nestle Philippines, GoNegosyo, Cargill, Jollibee, Harbest, Unilever, Universal Robina Corp., Vitarich, Mcdonalds, Robinsons, Shoppee, Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines (SCMAP), and United Nation Global Compact.
“What we did was to identify the problems, and where the private sector can engage with the government to implement viable solutions,” Aboitiz Group VP/Go Negosyo senior adviser for agripreneurship Ginggay Hontiveros said.
According to Dar, a total of 35,049 program beneficiaries, composed of farmers involved in the production of corn, vegetables, cacao, poultry, gilts, swine, coffee, potato and sugarcane have been identified.