THE Department of Agriculture (DA) said its new strategy for food production focuses on keeping supplies reliable and affordable in the face of potential disruptions from climate change, and will involve a major push for the use of greenhouses.
The heavy July rains and the resulting floods upended supply chains and raised food prices, pointing to the need to reconfigure the DA’s efforts towards achieving scale and making crops more resilient through “protected cultivation,” it said.
The so-called “White Revolution” project is geared towards ensuring that the growing population can be adequately fed. The term “White Revolution” is taken from the South Korean agricultural boom beginning in the 1970s, which employed white plastic film in the construction of greenhouses.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. was quoted as saying: “We cannot afford to rely on good weather anymore. Protected cultivation is no longer optional — it’s a necessity.”
A key component of the plan involves locating production areas in “corridors” closer to urban markets to make distribution networks less prone to failure. These areas will feature improved post-harvest systems to maximize the shelf life of produce and facilities that allow crops to grow regardless of climate conditions, such as greenhouses.
The goal is to have the first of these corridors operational by July 2026, the DA said.
Agriculture Undersecretary Cheryl Marie Caballero has ordered an inventory of all greenhouses set up during past DA programs to see if they can be tapped to jump-start the “White Revolution.”
Mr. Laurel said President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s vision for agriculture involves “a modern, climate-resilient, tech-powered agriculture sector that truly supports our farmers while ensuring food security.”
The Philippines currently has a trade deficit of $11.71 billion due to its substantial food imports. Cutting this deficit by $1.71 billion would result in at least P60 billion being redirected to local producers. — Andre Christopher H. Alampay