Key officials of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) celebrated the 2nd Bangsamoro Food Security Summit (FSS) last May 6-7, at MAFAR Compound, Bangsamoro Government Center, Cotabato City. (Photo from MAFAR)
COTABATO CITY – The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) held its second Bangsamoro Food Security Summit (FSS) on May 6-7 at the Bangsamoro Government Center in the city.
The two-day event, which carried the theme: “Food for Today and Beyond: Transforming Philippine Agriculture”, aimed to craft the region’s strategic action plans in addressing emerging challenges and prospects for the agriculture and fisheries industry.
In his message, Bangsamoro Chief Minister Ahod B. Ebrahim said that the Bangsamoro region, as an agricultural hub in the Philippines, “displays unlimited potential and apparent challenges in terms of food security.”
Ebrahim pointed out that for the BARMM to achieve what it desired under the Food Security and Nutrition Roadmap that was launched last year, it is essential to promote collaboration amongst concerned agencies, farmers and fisherfolks, and public and private stakeholders.
“To elevate the living condition of the Bangsamoro people, we hope to utilize our region’s potential,” he added.
Meanwhile, MAFAR Minister Dr. Mohammad Yacob emphasized that the conduct of the celebration served as “an avenue to generate plans and viable recommendations that would help to boost the region’s food supply.”
During the event, Yacob and other MAFAR officials and staff conducted a series of parallel workshops and laid out legislative agenda for the agriculture sector.
The ministry also presented the summit’s output, entitled Food Security Plan Today and Beyond the New Normal, to the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Through a video conference, DA-National Secretary William Dar congratulated the ministry and regional government for the success of the event and said “amidst the pandemic, the FSS envisions to ensure and secure that there is enough supply of food in every Bangsamoro table.”
Furthermore, World Food Programme (WFP) Country Director Brenda Barton also encouraged everyone to work together for the same purpose of having food security.
“I believe that making the food and nutrition a high priority will boost the availability of food supply in the entire Bangsamoro region,” Barton said. (Bangsamoro Information Office/Photo from MAFAR)
