Agriculture
PH sends first commercial carabao mango shipment to Toronto
The Philippines has dispatched its first-ever commercial batch of fresh Carabao mangoes to Toronto, Canada, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Rice, corn stockpiles rise ahead of harvest
The Philippines entered May with larger rice and corn inventories, providing a cushion against supply disruptions and helping ease concerns over food availability as the country moves toward the next harvest cycle.
DA targets August start for new FMR projects
The Department of Agriculture on Wednesday (DA) said that the construction of major farm‑to‑market roads (FMR) under its program is set to begin by August this year, with bidding activities scheduled from June to July. In a briefing in Quezon City, DA assistant secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa, who also chairs the Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) for large FMR projects, said preparations are already underway, including a pre‑procurement conference scheduled soon.
Compliance with imported rice price cap hits 47% amid stricter DA checks
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has expanded market monitoring nationwide to strictly enforce the P50 per kilogram price ceiling for imported rice with 5 percent broken grains. In a statement Tuesday, the agency reported that compliance has steadily improved since the measure took effect, reaching 47.42 percent in the latest round of simultaneous inspections across Metro Manila and other regions. The increase is credited to more frequent checks and stronger presence of law enforcement in public markets.
JTI PH steps in with extra tobacco purchases as oversupply hits local farmers
JTI Philippines has committed to purchase an additional 3.32 million kilograms of local green weight tobacco leaf to absorb excess supply caused by overproduction in major growing areas. The move supports farmers amid weaker global demand that drove down prices from last year’s highs.
