South Korea to buy more agri products from Phl

MANILA, Philippines - South Korean agribusinesses have committed to increase the importation of farm products from the Philippines, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced yesterday.

In a briefing, Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said that during the investment mission held by the DA in South Korea last week, the Korean Agriculture Ministry also agreed to expand technical cooperation on food safety and sustainable production systems.

During the five-day investment mission, Korean farmers’ cooperative Hapchon Livestock Cooperative Union and Philippine companies Benacorn Corp. and Ploughshares Inc. signed a memorandum of understanding for additional supply of corn silage and other animal feedstock.

Agriculture assistant secretary and national corn program coordinator Edilberto de Luna said Hapchon has been sourcing about 1,000 metric tons (MT) of corn silage from the Philippines since last year against an actual demand of 7,000 MT a month. By the third quarter of the year, local producers aim to ship an aggregate 2,000 to 3,000 MT per month.

Alcala said several South Korea firms have also expressed interest in importing peking duck meat and fishery products from the Philippines. These companies include Japan Food Corp., TC Foods and Dawaon Corp.

“We will link them with local producers now that the Philippines has an advantage for such commodities,” he said.

The Philippines remains free from avian influenza that have affected neighboring countries.

“We are also encouraging good agricultural practices among peking duck producers,” said Alcala.

Six months ago, the South Korean government approved the exportation of chicken by Bounty Fresh Inc. from its plant in Pulilan, Bulacan.

The Agriculture chief also met with his South Korean counterpart Agriculture Minister Lee Dong-Phil to sign agreements for technical cooperation on food safety and production.

Alcala said a memorandum of agreement would also be signed with the Korea Food Research Institute on traceability and food safety management.

A traceability system would allow the government and businesses to determine the source of a product or its ingredients affected by food safety issues, minimizing disruption of trade and potential health risks.

The DA has also secured a commitment from the South Korea Rural Research Institute for the establishment of so-called multi-industry clusters. The DA has proposed the development of nucleus estates that may be leased and managed by a South Korean company that has a contract growing arrangement with farmers outside of the estate.