Agriculture department supports herbal industry
Posted on June 14th, 2009
The Chamber of Herbal Industries of the Philippines has found an ally in the Department of Agriculture (DA) who offered to team up with them in order to create value-added products for the overseas market.
Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap said that their department is willing to invest in crops required by the organization as raw materials for organic food, personal care and wellness products, as well as food supplements.
Yap also added that they are ready to train farmers to apply the technologies necessary to commercialize the production of these raw materials. Yap, however, required CHIP members in return to commit to purchase the crops produced by the farmers to secure their income.
“If you can give us the downstream support in terms of orders, we are willing to invest so that farmers can plant the raw materials that are needed to produce herbal and organic products,†the agriculture secretary said.
CHIP has 50 members at present, which is composed of manufacturers, distributors, suppliers or raw materials, service providers, scientists, academics, and inventors. These companies make organic food products, health products, food supplements and personal care products.
The main thrust of CHIP at present is geared towards the Filipino expatriate sector, where the organization is eyeing $1 billion in exports of herbal products by 2010. The organization considers North America and the Middle East as their biggest markets.
Another support that the DA can give to the herbal industry according to Yap, is to subsidize part of the fees necessary for member companies of CHIP to take part in international trade shows and exhibits.
He said, “We have been setting aside money for producers who go abroad for trade fairs or food exhibits, and we have also been trying to help them right now with their packaging needs.†He added that at present, the DA has been displaying herbal products in the agency’s agri-export showroom.
