Government seeks investors for agri projects

MANILA, Philippines - The government is seeking investors for some P600 million worth of agri investment packages.

A set of pre-screened investment proposals for agribusiness projects was presented during the first-ever National Convergence Agri-Investment Forum held recently at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM) Conference Center in Makati City.

The forum was held by the National Convergence Initiative of the Departments of Agriculture (DA), of Agrarian Reform (DAR), and of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to increase awareness and promote more investments into the agriculture sector.

Prepared by regional convergence initiative technical working groups throughout the country, these project proposals cover expansion and modernization of mushroom production, integrated feed milling program, manufacture of handcrafted novelty items using cornhusk, and integrated coconut processing facility, among others.

Topping the list of agribusiness investment proposals (AIPs) is one on halal goat raising in Maguindanao with a project cost of P107.7 million. 

The project will produce halal chevon, slaughter goat, or live goat for slaughtering and organic fertilizer. It also aims to explore alternative business arrangements to encourage private sector-farmer partnership in establishing and managing enterprises.

There is also a P100-million plan for coffee-based farming in Surigao del Sur. The project will adopt appropriate coffee-based farming system that will optimize land utilization and provide a large area for expansion.

Aside from the DA, DAR, and DENR, the event is also supported by the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) - an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations; Agencia Española de Cooperacion Internacional para el Desarrollo (AECID) or Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation, and the Philippine Agricultural Development and Commercial Corp. (PADCC) – the designated agribusiness investment promotion and marketing arm of DA.