MANILA – The Philippines and Papua New Guinea signed a memorandum of agreement for agricultural cooperation.
Under the agreement signed last week the two countries will “promote mutual consultations, exchanges on technical assistance, and joint research on specific areas of agriculture,” Malacañang said in a press release on Saturday.
The agreement was signed by Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol and Papua New Guinea Agriculture and Livestock Minister Benny Allan.
Covered by the MOA are the following areas of cooperation:
*production of rice and grains;
*production of industrial crops such as coconut, cocoa, coffee, rubber, and palm oil;
*production of horticultural crops and spices;
*aquaculture and inland fish farming;
*post-harvest development;
*livestock breeding;
*training on bio-security mechanisms and systems for monitoring;
*development of agri-businesses and technical training for establishment of agri-business resource centers;
*development of irrigation facilities for large rice scale production, renovation and establishment of abattoirs; and
*research, education and training on agriculture.
Under the MOA, there will also be an exchange of professionals, scientists, technicians and farmers for study and training, the Palace said.
Also covered by the agreement are exchanges in genetic materials, technologies, and scientific and technical information.
Piñol, Presidential Spokesperson and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez and Philippine Ambassador to Papua New Guinea Bienvenido Tejano on Friday visited the Philippines-Papua New Guinea Rice Demonstration Farm outside Port Moresby.
The said farm is a 25-hectare model seed farm that can serve as a source of certified rice seeds for commercial and smallholder farmers of Papua New Guinea, the Palace said.
In August, the Philippine government sent 19 Filipino farm technicians and tax-free supplies and equipment to Port Moresby for this farm. (GMA News)
