(Eagle News) — The security problems in Mindanao are factors that affect the country’s agricultural production.
This is according to President Rodrigo Duterte, who spoke in the opening ceremonies of Agrilink / Foodlink / Aqualink 2017 at the World Trade Center in Pasay City on Thursday night.
“The problem is in Mindanao. Meron kasi tayong serious security problems, and for as long as there is trouble, we cannot initiate programs that would guarantee a good production for the year,” he said.
He noted that there was “so much terrorism and a lot of extortion around.”
“We still have to finish the siege in Marawi,” he said.
“Talking of agriculture, the greatest promise of food security would really be Mindanao,” the President added.
President Duterte also emphasized that the utilization of the money which was allotted to the Department of Agriculture—the biggest of all the other agencies—was crucial to food security.
The Agrilink / Foodlink / Aqualink 2017 is a three-day event.
During those days, exhibitions and seminars on local and international agribusiness, food processing, packaging, among others, are held.