Agri, Tourism dep’ts sign farm tourism agreement

THE departments of Agriculture (DA) and Tourism signed a memorandum of agreement on Monday to expand farm tourism and strengthen the links between the food production industry and travel.

In a statement, the DA said the two departments  committed to aligning their programs, infrastructure development, and promotional efforts to position the Philippines as a leading food and gastronomy destination.

According to the DA, the agreement builds upon programs authorized by the Tourism Act of 2009 and the Farm Tourism Development Act of 2016.

The two departments agreed to coordinate their efforts to expand farm tourism destinations, promote Filipino cuisine, and integrate agricultural priorities into tourism planning.

The DA’s farm-to-market road projects will also be aligned with tourism circuits overseen by the Tourism Road Infrastructure Program to improve farm logistics and access to emerging destinations.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said the partnership aims to create more stable institutional demand for local produce and integrate agriculture into the broader services economy. 

“When hotels and restaurants source consistently from Filipino farmers, we stimulate rural investment, generate employment, and expand economic activity beyond primary production,” Mr. Laurel was quoted as saying in the statement.

He added that linking agriculture to tourism could also incentivize higher standards in quality, food safety, and sustainability, helping producers compete in premium markets. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel