The Department of Agriculture (DA) has signed two separate agreements aimed at modernizing the farm sector, increasing farmers’ incomes, and improving food security.
In one deal, the DA partnered with Megawide Construction Corp. to build integrated agricultural infrastructure. The agreement, signed on April 27, supports projects such as agro-solar farming systems, food-processing facilities, and food terminals to improve storage, logistics, and distribution.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the move aligns with the government’s goal of creating a modern and sustainable farm sector. The project is expected to reduce post-harvest losses by 30 to 50 percent, a long-standing issue affecting farmers’ earnings.
The initiative will also promote clustered farming, allowing small farmers to share resources, adopt modern technology, and shift to commercial-scale production. It aims to strengthen rural economies and attract more private investment into agriculture.
In a separate agreement, the DA teamed up with the National Power Corp. and Asian Pyrochem Technologies Inc. to launch Project SAFE (Sustainable Agroforestry Farming Enterprise). The project will focus on agroforestry in watershed areas, producing crops like cacao, coffee, bamboo, and abaca while integrating carbon financing and nature-based solutions.
Project SAFE will also introduce barter systems to help farmers access inputs and markets more easily.
The DA said both agreements highlight a broader effort to build a climate-resilient, market-driven agriculture sector, with stronger infrastructure and increased private sector participation to support long-term food security and rural development.
