#MINDANAO
For many, Christmas means large amounts of festive food to celebrate the loving occasion of the Savior's birth. Food brings fond memories of Christmases past when families gathered around the Christmas meal. This is a tradition that has not changed over the centuries and will not change. Family meals at Christmas are strong pillars of our collective and individual identity.
Talking about food, we look to the next year. We realize that with climate and logistical challenges, there is a need to produce more local food to meet the needs of our growing population and meet the new tastes that have emerged due to exposure to global food trends.
With this, the recent BOI endorsement for green lane investment processing of Metro Pacific's venture into greenhouse vegetable and dairy production ought to inspire others to do the same. (https://mb.com.ph/2023/12/13/boi-endorses-metro-pacific-s-p3-4-b-farm-projects). This is because more food produced near the markets the better. In a previous article, I proposed that condominiums, medium-rise developments, and even residential subdivisions in major cities in the archipelago should start cultivating vegetables. This can be a ready and affordable food source for residents and employees. This will cushion the impact of inflation on household incomes and allow family food budgets to be maximized.
For those unable to invest in direct food production, corporate contract growing of food with farmer cooperatives is a good way of ensuring quality and nutritious food for employees of large companies that provide rice support or subsidies. Companies can acquire the food at lower costs. Excess production can go into the market. The advantage for the farmer is that they get a good price for the food they produce since the price is contracted ahead of time. The challenge is making sure that the right quantity and quality of food is delivered by the farmers and the cooperatives in accordance with the contract.
In this light, a program worth supporting is the Kapatid Angat sa Lahat Agri Program (KALAP) under GoNegosyo. This program aims to bring together farmer groups and large corporate buyers to match supply with demand. This will build long-term supplier-buyer relationships that can build resilient food value chains. We all know that as many cities and provinces increase their tourism capacities, and the restaurant boom continues, the need for large amounts of fresh and high-quality produce is paramount. Companies with rice or food benefits for employees, or with large canteens can also be part of this program.
Quiet confidence in God’s presence
As we await the coming of Christ on Christmas Day and look toward a challenging future, a strong lesson we should always bear in mind is the need to build a strong, yet quiet confidence in God. Building this can be a challenge in our current high-stress work environments compounded by social media bombardment. This makes daily life anything but quiet. Quiet confidence is the ability to recognize His hand in events and instances that allow us to learn and grow. This also means having a smile in our hearts and a feeling of being loved despite the circumstances we face. It means facing the future with a hope that can quench fear. We are all encouraged to cultivate this confidence.