Task Force on Food Security: Country's food supply enough until end of June

The Task Force Group on Food Security (TGFS) assured the public on Thursday, April 23, that the country still has enough food supply to last until the end of June this year.

 

Agriculture Secretary William Dar said rice supply is sufficient for 84 days; corn for 147 days; vegetables for 28 days; fish for 12 days; pork for eight days; poultry products for 111 days; and other food items like onions and garlic for 21 days.

 

To ensure food distribution is not hampered by the COVID-19 crisis, the task force started the “Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita” program, which will help affected farmers and fishermen sell their products through various platform. 

“Inaayos po natin ang paggalaw ng mga supply na ito mula sa source hanggang sa lugar na may pangangailangan lalo na yung nasa Visayas at Mindanao patungong Luzon, and vice-versa,” Dar said.  

Under the government's Social Amelioration Program, the Department of Agriculture will also distribute a cash subsidy of P5,000 to 600,000 rice farmers. Dar said they have already identified more than 230,000 rice farmers who will benefit from this.

 

Meanwhile, the task force has also started promoting “urban agriculture.” 

 

“Hinihikayat natin ang mga mamamayan lalo na ang mga nakatira sa lungsod na mag-tanim ng gulay at mag-alaga ng hayop sa kanilang bakuran,” Dar said.