Following the official visit of Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to the Philippines, two of its ministers headed to the Science City of Muñoz in Nueva Ecija on May 17, 2018 to see the latest rice farming and livestock development technologies of the country.
Agriculture Secretary Manny F. Piñol accompanied Finance Minister James Marape and Agriculture and Livestock Minister Benny Allan to the central stations of the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and Philippine Carabao Center.
Prior to the visit, Piñol and Allan signed a Joint Declaration on Agriculture Cooperation in Malacañang on May 16 to stipulate the two countries’ agricultural partnership particularly on rice farming. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and PM O’Neill witnessed the signing.
Under the joint cooperation, the Philippines’ Agriculture department will send young Filipino farmers to assist in the establishment of a rice model farm equipped with modern farming technology in PNG. At least two million hectares will be developed into rice farms to fill in the national requirement of the country. Surplus will be sent to the Philippines.
“Agriculture should be visionary,” Piñol noted as he recalled that his proposal brought partition of reactions.
Some of the highlights of the courtesy visit include a tour to PhilRice’s future rice farm which showcases the latest farm machines available locally, high-yielding rice varieties, traditional rice varieties and rice-based food products, Palayamanan products, and packages of technologies developed in partnership with the Central Luzon State University. PhilRice also presented to the Agri chief and PNG officials Kwebo—a typhoon-resistant drying and storage facility as well as other farm machineries.
During the activity, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources presented some of its fresh-water species which can be integrated with rice production, while the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization presented its latest technologies for cacao and coffee processing.
Aside from rice farming, Piñol expressed interest in assisting the government of PNG to develop wild buffaloes so that they will not rely on imports from other countries. ### (Kristel Merle, DA-AFID)
(L-R) Photo shows PNG Ministers Marape and Allan, and Ambassador Bienvenido Tejano, with Agriculture Secretary Piñol during the PhilRice visit on May 17. (photo by Ardy Tompong/DA-AFID)
