NEWS: Benefits of Genetic Engineering: Biotechnology to expand to 10 poorest provinces in the country
Balita
April 13 2007
Excerpt…
The gains of biotechnology in the Philippines will be expanded to the 10 poorest provinces.
In a recent national congress on Biotechnology Information and Organization Network (BIONet), Department of Agriculture Assistant Secretary for policy and planning Josyline Javelosa said they will embark on maximizing the benefits of agricultural innovations that focus on the poorest provinces.
Javelosa said biotechnology has become a significant factor in increasing farmers income through wider propagation of new crop varieties developed through the use of genetic engineering, tissue culture and cross breeding which translate into higher yields and better-tasting and nutritious food, thus assuring income for direct producers.
The promotion of BIONet, she noted, has become the magnet for Bio-Commerce Centers nationwide of crops, fruits and other agricultural products.
“With research and development of products like rice, sugar, sweet sorghum, cassava, corn, papaya and even malunggay, we now see the possibility that our farmers would enjoy comparative advantage vis-à-vis competing nations,” she said.
She noted there are tasks to be done such as organizing more farmers to benefit from the products of biotechnology, which requires a lot of convincing and arguing to encourage more producers to accept the legitimacy, viability and necessity of biotechnology products.
Javelosa, however, said biotechnology has already been accepted in areas like Negros Oriental, Laguna, Southern Luzon, Northern Luzon, Central Luzon, Caraga region, Mindoro, Bulacan, the two Lanao provinces, Nueva Vizcaya, and Davao…
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