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DA: 30% of PH produce wasted due to poor logistics
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. on Tuesday 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.
''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 added.
Laurel mentioned that the Department of Agriculture 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.
''The national government like the DA should coordinate and plan with them to address this. But, that’s a work-in-progress that we will do; but in order to have a quick solution to this problem, hopefully after 13 or 14 months… latest, June next year, nandiyan na iyong facility to address that,'' Laurel said.
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.
Tiu 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.
“Because we’re losing about 12.7 to 15% of our rice production due to lack of post-harvest facilities. So, sa rice and corn pa lang na post-harvest, P93 billion na eh. Sa cold storage, my budget this year is only P1 billion so ifo-focus ko lahat iyon sa apat na cold storage to address that vegetable issue – but that can only cover part of Luzon,” Laurel said.
“So, if we try to solve the problem as soon as possible, assuming 2025… I need additional P5 billion ‘no to address the vegetable cold storage issue of the whole nation. How to get the money… I’m still new at the government, so I’m still trying to figure that out also,” he said.
