Source: Manila Bulletin
July 14, 2011
MANILA, Philippines — The chief of the Bureau of Agricultural Research (BAR) Thursday said close collaboration between local government units (LGUs) and the private sector is needed to boost food adequacy programs.
BAR executive director Nicomedes P. Eleazar made this pitch for public-private partnership (PPP) as he called for strengthening naturalresource-based programs to enhance the development of the agricultural sector.
“In ensuring local development and food security, we need to look into what commodities are needed to strengthen in terms of production and income. Let’s ensure first that the supply is enough in their own localities before bringing the products to other areas,” Eleazar said during the “Agri-Entrepreneurs’ Forum and Techno Clinic” in Legazpi City, Albay.
With the goal of the Department of Agriculture (DA) in sustaining agricultural production, there is a need to increase support from the private sector and tap LGUs as active partners for agriculture-fishery development.
Eleazar identified several possible areas for public-private partnership in infrastructure, research and development (R&D) and public investments.
For infrastructure, among the possible areas for PPP are the establishment of cold chain systems which consist of common service facilities with marketing support, resulting to reduced postharvest losses, maintaining an inventory of quality perishable goods, promoting direct marketing and stabilizing prices and promoting food safety awareness.
