Mindanao News
MinDA eyes PO system to boost agri-production By Prexx Marnie Kate Trozo
DAVAO CITY – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) said it is finalizing a purchase order or PO system for farmers to help them secure more capital and increase productivity.
Food Bank Concept (Graphics and illustration by MinDA)
In a Facebook post on Friday, MinDA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol described the PO system as a “marketdriven food production concept” in which a PO is issued before farmers or fishermen start production, which in turn could be used as a guarantee for a bank financing.
to the recent pronouncement of the Department of Agriculture (DA) that it will rely mainly on imports.
Piñol said a farmer recently expressed fear of possible economic displacement if the country is inundated with imported agricultural products as soon as the public health emergency is Piñol said the concept is being lifted. “fine-tuned” by MinDA with the help of the private sector. “Their fear, indeed, has a basis. Over the last few days, I have worked on a “When this is done, MinDA will concept of a food banking system where choose a pilot province where the the farmer engages his local government program will be initially implemented,” unit to produce the food needed in the he said while noting that as the country relief operations for the Covid-19 crisis,” faces an uncertain supply of food, many he said. farmers are still hesitant to expand their rice, chicken and hog farms. Under the system, he said the farmer will be issued a “food bank receipt” that This, he said, can be attributed could be used in availing of financing from APRIL 18-24, 2020 |
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