DA to expand export market for poultry

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture is set to expand its overseas market for priority export products, including fancy rice.

The move, according to DA Secretary Proceso J. Alcala, forms part of the agency’s strategic AgriPinoy framework that methodically focuses on strengthening the country’s agricultural capability, developing its global competitiveness, and subsequently expanding its market reach overseas, all geared for inclusive growth which pertains to economic improvements of all sectors particularly the poor.

“Aside from fancy rice, being geared for exports are pork and poultry, tuna and seaweed, corn, cacao, mangoes, abaca, bananas, pineapple and other high-value crops,” Alcala said, citing his directive to all agricultural attaches in the Philippine embassies worldwide to promote those products and report on their market development activities.

The export activities will be done by the private sector, but supported by the DA, its attached agencies and allied departments. 

These include the DA’s Bureau of Agriculture and Fishery Product Standard, the Agribusiness Marketing Assistance Service, and the Departments of Trade and Industry, Science and Technology, and Interior and Local Governments and its constituent local government units.

Such readiness for an all-out export marketing offensive stems from the success of the DA’s rural development framework founded in an agro-industrial base and adopting the AgriPinoy principles, and strategies such as food security and sufficiency, sustainable resource base, farm to table services, increased income from enhanced productivity and market access, and broad partnership with producers and other stakeholders.

“Nonetheless, the DA continues its focus on developing the country’s agro-industrial base with the help of all other agencies involved in rural development such as the Departments of Social Welfare and Development and of Labor and Employment, National Anti-Poverty Commission, and the National Electrification Commission, among others,” Alcala pointed out.

“These agencies ensure that all sectors, particularly the marginalized, gain access to government assistance in getting integrated into the agri-business industry as competent farm professionals and entrepreneurs,” Alcala stressed.

“They (beneficiaries) include, among others, the returning OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) and their relatives, and the indigents under the cash-transfer program of the DSWD,” Alcala added.