Agrilink to focus on good agri practices, small ruminants

MANILA, Philippines - The Foundation for Resource Linkage and Development (FRLD), a non-profit organization catering to the agribusiness industry, will hold on Oct. 7 to 9, 2010, the country's largest and most influential trade fair on agriculture, aquaculture and food – AgriLink, FoodLink and AquaLink. The event will highlight good agricultural practices as key to enhancing our competitive advantage and contributions to sustainable development, agricultural productivity and food security.

Antonio V. Roces, FRLD president, said: “We believe that for agribusiness to prosper, it must enhance access to quality-driven markets where good agricultural practices are an essential concern, and where we can be competitive while enhancing food sufficiency. Our goal is to encourage all crop sectors to implement sustainable production systems that are profitable while being socially viable, and taking into account food safety, animal health and the environment.”

AgriLink 2010's theme, ‘Good Agricultural Practices: Key to Competitiveness,’ enters on key practices that will increase productivity and enhance our competitiveness in the global market.

AgriLink's focus this year will be the small ruminants, which comprises goats and sheep. Although the small ruminants sector is largely untapped, it has economic importance and promising potential for the agriculture industry.

“Despite this, their potential socio-economic contributions remain inadequately recognized,” said Danreb M. Oira, president and the Nueva Ecija Goat and Sheep Raisers Association (NEGSRA), a group affiliated with the Federation of Goat and Sheep Producers Associations of the Philippines Inc. (FGASPAPI).

AgriLink 2010 will be highlighted by the latest and most innovative technologies, inputs and enterprises that can improve efficiency, productivity and sustainability of the integrated industries of food, agriculture and aquaculture.

The three-day event is supported by: Agri-Aqua Network International, Bureau of Aniomal Industry, Cooperative Development Authority Food Entreprenuers and Exporters of the Philippines, Livestock Development Council, National Federation of Hog Farmers, National Onion Growers Marketing Association, Organic Producers Trade Association, Philippine Amalgamated Supermarkets Association, Philippine Association of Hog Raisers, Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Philippine Coconut Authority, Philippine Crop Insurance Corp., Philippine Food Processors and Exporters Organization, Philippine Rice Research Institute, Philippine Sugar Research Institute Foundation, Postharvest Horticulture Training and Research Center, Supply Chain Management Association of the Philippines, Technology Resource Center, International Livestock and DairyExpo, French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Department of Agriculture.

For inquiries, contact Sally, Larry of Rogelyn through 8384549, 8384605 and 8384491, or email [email protected].