The Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) signed on Friday a memorandum of understanding (MOU) aimed at ensuring an efficient rice supply chain and creating an alternative market for grain. The understanding among the three agencies would benefit farmers and consumers as it seeks to promote the Integrated Rice Supply Chain Development Program. 'This MOU establishes a formwork for collaboration in the development and implementation of a project that holds the promise of transforming our rice supply chain,' Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel said in a press release on Saturday. The program will foster an efficient supply chain, develop a business-to-business online market platform, create alternative market access for buyers and sellers, enhance farmers' income, promote proper rice branding and classification, and make rice affordable to consumers. Tiu-Laurel said he envisions the future of Philippine rice to be of high quality and recognized in the market. He said the country could elevate the status of its agricultural products on a global stage with the cooperation in production, classification, marketing, and distribution of domestic rice. 'Our aim is to enhance the income of our hard-working rice farmers through more efficient market and supply chain arrangements,' he added. The agriculture sector contributed 9 percent to gross domestic product last year and it has employed about 25 percent of the 49.7 million Filipinos in the labor force as of November.
Source: Philippines News Agency