DEPARTMENT of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Tuesday, Jan. 16, said that 30% of the country’s agricultural produce is being wasted because of poor logistics system.
”We also have a very big move on the logistics ‘no – 30% of our produce, especially of vegetables, is gone because of wastage ‘no, because of the poor logistics system in our food supply chain,” Laurel said at a Palace press briefing.
He added: ”If we can lessen or hopefully almost eliminate iyong losses na iyon, that will be equivalent to at least 10 to 15% less cost sa ating mga vegetables and high-value crops like fruits.’
Laurel mentioned that the DA would be establishing a 5,000 pallet position cold storage for high-value crops and vegetables, which will serve the country’s cooperatives and farmers.
In a meeting with President Ferdinand ”Bongbong” Marcos Jr., the DA presented the status of the provision of cold storage and postharvest facilities, plans on reducing the prices of agricultural commodities and enhancing agricultural production, as well as the proposed amendments to the Philippine Fisheries Code and draft Executive Order on Strategic Agriculture and Fisheries Development Zones.
Laurel said the government would need P93 billion to build post-harvest facilities in the next three years to save P10.7 billion a year rice and corn wastage.
He admitted that the DA is still determining where to get the budget for the post-harvest facilities.
Last December, Marcos directed the DA to report on the status of the construction of cold storage facilities and provision of postharvest facilities by January 2024, focusing on its implementation. (GMA Integrated News)
