The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Philippines in the field of agriculture and related fields. The Cabinet is chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
Agriculture in the Philippines employs 30.4% of the Filipino workforce as of 2014, according to the World Bank. The Philippines is the 8th largest rice producer in the world, accounting for 2.8% of global rice production. Other major production from the country includes , sugar, rubber, fruits and coconut.
The MoU will improve bilateral cooperation in the field of agriculture and will be mutually beneficial to both countries. It will promote understanding of best agricultural practices in the two countries and will help in better productivity as well as improved global market access.
Cooperation in the fields of rice production and processing, multi cropping system, dryland farming systems, bio-organic farming, solid and water conservation and management, soil fertility, sericulture, agro forestry, livestock improvement etc. would have the major emphasis.
The MoU provides for constitution of Joint Working Group composed of equal number of representatives. The Joint Working Group shall meet once every two years alternatively in the Philippines and India.
