Sunday, March 09, 2008

DA Holds FOOD SUMMIT 2008 Rising To The Challenge of Food Security

“Negosyo sa Sakahan – Laban Sa Kahirapan, Pagkain Sa Mesa – Ramdam Ko Ang Kaunlaran” is the theme of the Food Summit the Department of Agriculture (DA) held in Lapu Lapu City, Mactan. The 10 storey Crown Regency Hotel served as the venue for some 200 participants on March 4–6, 2008.
The participants came from all the provinces and cities of the Visayas who were provincial governors, heads of farmers and fisherfolks organizations, heads of national industrial associations, sectoral group leaders, national government agency heads, legislators and officials of DA.
Aklan was represented by Mr. William Castillo – OIC, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Mr. Roberto M. Sazon, Jr. and Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente representing the private sector. Gov. Carlito S. Marquez was not able to make it. Gov. Salvacion Zaldivar Perez attended for the Province of Antique.
The Summit aimed to gather multi-sectoral initiatives to address food security issues and concerns, identify strategic interventions, draw up operational framework to translate common agenda into action, and strengthen collaboration with local government executives in the development and implementation of local action plans.
For one day, the participants inventoried current initiatives, the strategic interventions needed, strategic action plan/operational framework. They identified issues, concerns and recommended solutions on access to credit, markets and agricultural extension among others.
The workshops participants were grouped into:
1. rice and white corn, 2. poultry, livestock and feed crops, 3. fisheries and aquaculture, and 4. high value crops like fruits, vegetables and cut flowers.
The results of this area–wide Food Summit will be the subject of National Food Summit to be held on April 5, 2008 in Quezon City. And the output of this National Food Summit would serve as the platform for rural development thrust. /MP

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