Agriculture Secretary William Dar shares his vision for agriculture during the Free Seminar on Moringa Production and Processing. (photo by Daniel Nilo)
DILIMAN, Quezon City—New Department of Agriculture Secretary William Dar has urged private sector partners and agriculture enthusiasts to support the growth of moringa farming in the country to become a highly profitable enterprise from being a backyard industry.
“This [industry] will not only bring us more economic opportunities and increased income but will also contribute to the wellness and good health of the people,” Dar said.
This was during the Free Seminar on Moringa Production and Processing led by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI). The activity is part of the Institute’s regular series of capability-building activities in metropolitan areas for individuals interested to venture into farming.
“I am inspired to see the enthusiasm becoming bigger in terms of growing and developing the moringa industry,” Dar added.
Around 200 participants were present during the seminar where Dar also shared his vision as a “servant-leader” of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk.
“Our vision is simple: to have a food-secure Philippines with prosperous farmers and fisherfolk. All citizens must have sufficient, affordable, and accessible food,” he stated.
To ensure this, Dar called for everyone’s support in improving productivity (ani) and income (kita) of Filipino farmers.
“If there is no income in agriculture, our children will instead go to the city and there will be no one left to produce food for the future,” he remarked.
Experts from the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PHilMech), Moringaling Foundation of the Philippines, and Terra Verde Ecofarm. Some of the topics discussed were the Research Frontiers on the Wonder of Malunggay, Organic Moringa Production, and market demand for moringa.
“Malunggay has very high nutritional value. Every 100 grams of it is said to contain 17 times more calcium than milk and 10 times the amount of Vitamin A than carrots. It also provides 15 times more potassium than banana, 25 times the amount of iron than spinach, and nine times more protein than yogurt,” Ma. Cristina Gragasin, Supervising Science Research Specialist at PHilMech, said.
ATI Alfredo Aton also graced the activity held last August 9 and thanked the participants for their interest in malunggay production and processing.