Mindanaotoday.com | Farmers need to grow more food, says MinDa exec
By: Jasper Marie Rucat
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDa) Area Management Office in Northern Mindanao cited the need to grow more food as three million families in the country are still suffering from hunger, according to Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey.
At the Talakayan sa PIA media forum at SM CDO Downtown Premier, Lordilie Enjambre, OIC Area Management Office-Northern Mindanao of MinDa, shared, “Actually we are good but not as good as we would want to be.”
Based on the 2022 Global Hunger Index, the Philippines ranked 69 of the 121 countries with respect to the level of hunger.
This is moderate level, she said.
However, in a survey also conducted by SWS, they are saying that more or less, three million families in the country are actually suffering from hunger.
“That means that we really have to improve and do something, promote food and security and sustainability so that every family in the country will really be able to eat substantial food on a daily basis,” she said.
MinDa is working closely with the Department of Agriculture (DA) in terms of ensuring food security and sustainability not just for Mindanao but for the entire country through various programs particularly in digitalization where pilot area is Misamis Oriental.
Minda Tienda is also another program implemented by MinDa also because another crucial problem for farmer groups aside from capitalization is really the market.
“Where would they sell their produce?” she said.
This is one way of motivating the farmers to grow more because they have ready buyers for their produce, so they are assured of income because at the end of the day, the bottomline is always important and that is income for the farmers.
MinDa is part of the big event Mindanao Food Congress together with Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Oro Chamber), October 26-28, 2022, at Limketkai Luxe Hotel where it will help craft and support resolutions to promote food security and sustainability. (JMOR | PIA-10)
####