Philippines, Japan ink agri collaboration

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will collaborate with neighboring country Japan for various developments in the agriculture sector.

The Department of Agriculture, through the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Engineering, has signed a memorandum of understanding with Japan’s National Agriculture and Food Research Organization and Institute of Agricultural Machinery to promote sustainable agricultural mechanization.

The MOU was signed by NARO director general Hiroshi Fujimura, Agriculture undersecretary Segfredo Serrano and DA-BAFE acting executive director Cristy Polido.

Serrano said the DA could  adopt how Japan mechanization program follows the structure of agriculture as the evolution of Japanese farming has taught their farmers to be more efficient and productive.

“We are very much aware of Japan’s emphasis on quality and functionality on their machineries,” he said.

Under the MOU, technical information exchange will be conducted in the areas of testing and evaluation of agricultural machinery, farm equipment safety and ergonomics, agricultural mechanization policy formulation, and other related areas through mutual consultations.