To allow our farmers more access to bank credit, to further address their financing needs, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) has further eased its documentary requirements and its application procedures. This would allow banks to provide micro-agri loans to farmers.
The micro-agri loans which amount to less P150,000 would be exempted from the requirement of [...]

Last September 28 and 29, Nestlé Philippines conducted a seminar at the Nestlé Experimental and Demonstration Farm (NEDF) in Tagum, Davao del Sur. Nestlé, who is the manufacturer of the coffee branch Nescafé, held the seminar as a part of the ongoing memorandum of agreement between the company and the Department of Agriculture (DA) which [...]

To help entrepreneurs, especially those who were affected by the recent typhoons, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said that they will be staging the trade fair called Impakabsat.
A yearly regional trade fair of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Impakabsat features products from Ifugao, Mountain Province, Abra, Kalinga, Apayao, Benguet and Baguio, where the [...]

There is a big demand for the macapuno or the “mutant nut” in the Philippines as well as in other countries. This offers a big opportunity for Filipino entrepreneurs as they can venture into the business of producing planting or the nut itself.
The Philippine Coconut Authority Albay Research Center scientists were able to develop the [...]

A protest caravan from Quezon City to Tarlac was held last Monday by militant groups to commemorate the 5th year anniversary of the Hacienda Luisita massacre. Vehicles of the protesters, who number almost a hundred, assembled at the Quezon City Memorial Circle Monday morning and went to the Central Azucarera de Tarlac (CAT), the site [...]

The Philippines is getting more investments from other countries. This time, Thailand’s Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Co. Limited is investing an additional $40 million in the Philippines for the expansion of an integrated feed and prawn hatchery and grow-out farms in Luzon.
Charoen Pokphand is Thailand’s leading agro-industrial and food conglomerate.

Two dairy organizations have joined forces to consolidate the efforts of their offices towards increasing dairy production nationwide. The Philippine Fruit and Vegetable Industries Inc. (PhilFruits), represented by its president Solomon D. Badoy, and Dairy Confederation of the Philippines (DairyCon), represented by national chairman Danilo V. Fausto, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for [...]

Prices of milkfish (bangus) dropped to P30 a kilo from a previous P90 per kilo when floods triggered by Pepeng’s strong rains washed out Pangasinan’s fishponds and cages.
Fishpond owners, who were trapped on the roofs of their houses because of the 20-foot-high floodwaters, can only watched helplessly while their neighbors swam and scooped up the [...]

As an assistance for our countrymen who were affected by tropical storm Ondoy and typhoon Pepeng, the Rural Bankers’ Association of the Philippines (RBAP) is pushing its member-banks to ease the terms of the agricultural loans extended to farmers in affected areas.

The 2009 National Livelihood Trade Fair was recently held at the SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City under the auspices of the Philippine Chamber of Handicrafts, Inc. and the Congressional Spouses Foundation, Inc.

On Saturday, October 3, 2009, there would be a whole day seminar on mushroom production to be given by Teddy Laurie, an expert in producing spawns as well as growing the crop. He will conduct the seminar right at the AANI Urban Farm at Kingsville Court, Antipolo City where he has put a facility to [...]

Coffee farming industry in the Philippines is getting a big boost as Figaro Coffee Systems Inc., a Filipino-owned coffee chain, is encouraging the revival of coffee farming in the country’s mountain areas. Figaro Coffee said that more players in the coffee industry are now sourcing their coffee bean supply requirement from local coffee growers, many [...]

The government assured that there is enough supply of rice for the country, despite damages of crops brought about by tropical storm Ondoy. The Department of Agriculture (DA) said that the National Food Authority (NFA) has more than a month’s worth of inventory in stock. It also said that considering the current inventories carried by [...]

In the Philippines, natural rubber production remains an emerging industry even though the country started growing trees at around the same time as Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia. These three countries at present supplies 75 percent of the world’s rubber requirement.
This year though, the Philippines is hopeful that there will be an increase in the country’s [...]

A bright prospect for the Philippine coffee industry looms in the horizon, as the country might get new coffee varieties in a joint coffee project with Angola.
Flavio Fonseca, ambassador of the Republic of Angola said, “Our intention is to promote the increase in coffee production. We are identifying new areas for a development cooperation between [...]

Fearing the ethanol blend would have an adverse effect on their customers’ cars, the country’s largest oil refiner, Petron Corp, is urging the Department of Energy (DOE) to come up with concrete guidelines on the utilization of ethanol blend in the transport sector.

Because of the fear of shortfall, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has increased allocation of this commodity for local consumption in the 2009-2010 crop year.  The SRA, together with the Philippine Sugar Millers Association Inc. (PSMA) has allocated 1.944 million metric tons  (MT), this is equivalent to 90% of the expected 2.16  million MT raw [...]

To promote a healthier citizenry and a more empowered sector and an environment-friendly atmosphere, a lawmaker is pushing for organic farming, or a chemical-free agricultural method. A bill called Organic Farming Act of 2008 has been filed by Quezon Rep. Proceso Alcala.
The bill seeks to establish a comprehensive organic farming program and designate a dedicated [...]

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) has made available to private hybrid palay seed producers faster access to new varieties it developed.
Ronilo A. Beronio, executive director of the state-run Philippine Rice Research Institute (Philrice) said “The private sector can now develop their own [palay] technology and disseminate these hybrid seeds to farmers… they will be [...]

The government announced that for the first time, the Philippines will be exporting yellow corn and its first shipment would be for Vietnam. This was confirmed by Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap, who said that the National Food Authority (NFA) already had talks with authorities in Vietnam, and they have committed to prioritize buying Philippine corn.