The government’s failure to stop smuggled pork imports has put the country at more risk of contracting new variants of African Swine Fever (ASF) that began to cause further damage in China, the world’s largest pork-producing country....
In a village up north, a community pantry literally goes out of its way to reach more vulnerable families. NOT YOUR ORDINARY COMMUNITY PANTRY -- A moving pantry in Cataggaman Nuevo, Tuguegarao City in Cagayan delivers food to families using a "kareta" pulled by a carabao. (Photo courtesy of the...
A traceability system that will enforce the strict accreditation of livestock and poultry traders and retailers in the country will be established in an attempt to curb potential price manipulation in the meat and poultry sectors, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said. (Photo courtesy of the...
Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary William Dar believes that the local agriculture sector has managed to survive its recent hardships by grabbing the various opportunities for innovation that has come its way. DA Secretary William Dar (Photo courtesy of DA) Dar said the country’s...
The United States (US) is funding two separate agriculture projects in the Philippines with combined investment of P1.6 billion. In a letter to Philippine Agriculture Secretary William Dar, US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Thomas J. Vilsack said his agency is committed to making...
T he Department of Agriculture (DA) wants agri- entrepreneurship to become the "new normal" in agriculture, so to speak, in a bid to open more doors to local farmers and fisherfolk while maintaining the country’s food supply stability. DA Secretary William Dar/ File photo/ Photo courtesy of DA)...
The Philippines and the United States (US) will continue to work together amid the pandemic in building new markets for their respective farmers via climate-smart production systems, the Philippines' Department of Agriculture (DA) said. (DA Secretary William Dar/ File photo/ Photo courtesy of DA)...
Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) Chair Rosendo So has filed a formal complaint before the Office of the Ombudsman against Agriculture Secretary William Dar for allegedly violating the Food Safety Act, among other laws. Over the weekend, members of the media obtained a copy of the formal...
The possibility of the government opening up the local market to more imported sugar remains to be one of the major factors why the country’s local sugar production is seen not improving this year or in the next years to come. This, according to international data, has remained to be “the...
Amid the prevalence of African Swine Fever (ASF), state-run lender Land Bank of the Philippines (LANDBANK) has doubled its credit commitment to the local swine industry from P15 billion to P30 billion. This, according to the bank, will help local pork producers and feed millers to repopulate and...
Meat prices continued to rise despite the recent 150 percent surge in pork import volume, casting doubt on the government’s recent move to bring down tariffs on imported pork. A customer pays for pork at a roadside market stall in Mandaluyong City, Manila, the Philippines. (Bloomberg file) “The...
It may have taken some time since the alleged kickback scheme in pork importation was exposed, but Agriculture Secretary William Dar is more certain now that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has nothing to do with this so-called tongpats scandal. During a recent senate hearing, Dar denied any...
