Taiwan, Phl open Tarlac demo farm

TARLAC CITY — Taiwan and the Philippines joined forces to tackle global food security concerns by inaugurating a demonstration farm here on Saturday. The project aims to boost production and income for local farmers, while showcasing Taiwan's advanced agricultural technology.

Food security has become a global concern amidst the worldwide pressures of inflation, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and climate change, said Wallace Minn-Gan Chow, representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines.

The demo farm, located in Barangay Sapang Maragul, is fully funded by Taiwan's International Cooperation and Development Fund and will serve as the implementation site for its Agri-Cluster Consolidation Cooperation project.

Chow emphasized the importance of the strategic partnership between Taiwan and the Philippines in addressing food production and safety issues.

"As the closest neighbor of the Philippines, Taiwan has realized the importance of developing a strategic partnership between our two countries on food production and safety," he said.

Tom Peng, ACCC project coordinator, explained that the project has initially identified three farmer groups in Pampanga, Bulacan and Tarlac, with plans to expand to more. He highlighted the success of the Tabon San Jose Farmers Association in Pampanga, which has generated nearly P860,000 in six months after adopting a new agribusiness model.

"We just want the farmers' income to increase because it's really important for the farmers to get sustainability," Peng said. "It is our first priority at the TTM and we want to see that their life is improved."

The ACCC project will provide beneficiary farmers with new and adaptive high-value crop management models, mentorship on seedling production, and training in smart agriculture practices, including diagnosis of cultivation, harvesting, post-harvest processing, storage, packaging, marketing, and organizational management.

The project will also introduce climate-resilient fruits and vegetables, such as "heat-resistant cauliflower and cabbage." Additionally, the TTM is prepared to supply seedlings annually to cover at least 150 hectares in times of disasters.

"In our demo farm, not only is it a training site, but we will also provide seedlings for disaster recovery, especially during the typhoon season, to help the farmers recover their income in a short time," Peng said.

Taiwan hopes the demo farm will showcase its agricultural prowess and attract investors to Central Luzon.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by dignitaries from both countries, including Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director General Lien Yu-Ping, Philippine Department of Agriculture officials, Tarlac Governor Susan Yap and former Agriculture Secretary William Dar.