Gov’t launches National Food Policy

The government has launched the National Food Policy which formalizes the country’s commitment to end hunger and malnutrition.

During the closing of the 2020 World Food Day over the weekend, Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles formally launched the NFP. Nograles chairs the Interagency Task Force on Zero Hunger.

“To ensure not only a whole-ofgovernment approach, but also a whole-of-nation approach in eradicating hunger, the NFP provides an outline of the national priorities based on a comprehensive understanding of hunger and related issues,” Nograles said.

He also said hunger is a multidimensional problem caused by a combination of interrelated factors, and thus collective action of everyone is crucial in addressing it effectively.

The NFP has outlined six key result areas, namely, review and rationalize existing policies, rules, and regulations related to zero hunger; ensure available and affordable food; and secure nutrition adequacy.

Also included are securing food accessibility and safety; ensuring sustainable food systems, food resiliency, and stability; and ensuring information, education, awareness, and people participation.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao also launched its Food Security and Nutrition Roadmap that complements the NFP.

Dar emphasized the need to attain food security with a greater sense of urgency as the Philippines and other countries worldwide contend with the global pandemic.

As the country’s food security depends on the agriculture sector, Dar said the Department of Agriculture would continue developing more strategies aimed at increasing food productivity in cost-efficient and sustainable ways.

He said the DA strives to make revolutionary changes to the sector, elevating it to Agriculture 4.0 that is a smarter and more efficient industry that employs big data and new technologies benefiting the entire food value chain, especially producers and consumers.