President Marcos Jr. is urging Filipino households to grow their own vegetables as a strong El Niño threatens farm production, even as he assured the public that supplies of rice, pork, beef and chicken remain sufficient.
“Let’s encourage everybody. Naka-Green Revolution na tayo noon, a long time ago. Tapos noong pandemic, nabuhay ‘yung ‘plantita.’ Ituloy na natin ‘yun,” Marcos said in a media interview in Singapore.
The President said vegetables could be hit hardest by the drought because crops need water to grow. Encouraging families to plant vegetables at home could help supplement food supplies, although he acknowledged that it would not solve the entire problem.
“Let’s just keep that going. Get everybody to plant their own vegetables. Kaya naman kung – that will help again. It won’t solve the entire problem, but it will help,” he added.
Marcos said chicken production is currently exceeding demand, putting downward pressure on prices, while pork production remains adequate.
The President said the government would ensure sufficient food supplies as the country prepares for the effects of a strong El Niño, which he estimated could last until March next year.
The Department of Agriculture’s Green Revolution 2.0 initiative seeks to encourage Filipinos to grow vegetables at home to help ease pressure on the country’s food supply system.IMT
