Monday, October 5, 2015

APEC members agree on regional plan to ensure food security



Member economies of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) agreed on Saturday (Oct. 3) on a food security plan contained in a declaration following the two-day meeting on food security in Iloilo City.

The policy declarations, which will be forwarded to the APEC economic leaders in November, have four priority areas: stock-take and food security roadmap toward 2020, sustainable development of agriculture and fishery sectors, facilitation on investment and infrastructure development and enhancing trade and market.

"Food security has come to be one of the most urgent and important challenges confronting the world especially APEC economies," said Undersecretary for Fisheries Asis Perez, the chair of the APEC Policy Partnership on Food Security (PPFS) Meeting.

The Philippines, a predominantly agricultural country, has focused on attaining food security and rice self sufficiency in the last five years under the Aquino administration.

This government goal coincides with APEC PPFS goal of attaining an institutionalized food system structure by 2020, that will ensure sufficient food supply for the entire region.

But having a secured supply of food goes beyond increasing production, Perez said adding it also involves enhancing producers' competitiveness and having fair policy regimes that promote sustainable growth and recognize the participation of women, farmers and fisherman in the value chain.

Among the major agenda during the meeting is the major role that the private sector will play in assisting micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) production process, which is part of the PPFS 2015 work plan.

To push this regional agenda, the Philippine government has been working to bridge the gap between the public and the private sectors, especially in the agriculture and fishery sectors so that small entrepreneurs receive the necessary support as they become part of the value chain.

The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, under the Department of Agriculture, hosted the APEC 2015 PPFS meeting in Iloilo City.  (PNA/PCOO News Release)

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