NEDA chief cites need for resilient agri sector

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)

Secretary Arsenio Balisacan has reiterated the need to enhance the resilience of the domestic agriculture sector amid the risks being faced by farmers amid climate change.

In his keynote speech during the 2023 Asia-Pacific agricultural policy roundtable on Monday, Bal- isacan said balancing climate mitigation and productivity-enhancing interventions would help the agriculture sector withstand the impacts of climate shocks.

The country’s top economist urged stakeholders in the agriculture sector to invest in measures that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

DA-11 director Abel James Monteagudo said the technology is good for the fast-emerging industry of durian in the Philippines, particularly the Davao Region, as it began to export around 28 metric tons of durian to China.

“It will be a great help in the capability of farmers to sell durian of the right age and quality. Assuring them of good selling price and at the same time guarantee- ing consumers of good quality durian,” Monteagudo said in an interview on Tuesday.

Undertaking the project expected for completion by the second quarter of this year are researchers from the University of the Philippines Mindanao (UP Mindanao) here and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Science for Change Program (S4CP).

Through the Artificial Intelligence-based Non-Invasive Grading System for Durian (AIDurian) project, UP Mindanao hopes to address the problem by developing a system that is capable of classifying durian based on ripeness, quality, and variety.

AIDurian aims to provide a more accurate and efficient post-harvest classification process.

FIMAGING, P10