The Department of Agriculture (DA) is now advancing the Project Sustainable Agroforestry Farming Enterprise (SAFE) to boost the high-value crops sector in the Philippines.

The agency signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Power Corporation (NPC) and Asian Pyrochem Technologies Inc. (APTI) on Monday.

Project SAFE seeks to advance agroforestry production of key crops like bamboo, abaca, cacao, and coffee, with the integration of carbon financing mechanisms and nature-based solutions, in watershed areas nationwide.

DA Undersecretary for High-Value Crops Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero said the five-year partnership will look at large-scale plantations and the utilization of high-value crops for “food, feed, and fuel.”

“Ito ay mga malalaking mechanism kung saan ang negosyo ay palalawakin sa konteksto ng (These are massive mechanisms wherein businesses will be expanded in the context of) large investments with companies,” she told reporters in an earlier interview.

The deal is set to boost the government’s agricultural industrialization and agricultural innovation efforts for the high-value crops sector.

Under the MOU, a technical working group will be created to come up with specific investment portfolios in areas covered under the nationwide expansion.

“Other companies are to follow. What is important is that we are able to secure the partnership with NPC on their watershed areas and NIA (National Irrigation Administration) on their irrigation canals, lalo na ‘yung mga (especially the) underutilized,” Caballero said.

“We are actually planning the rollout of this in partnership with the local government units,” she said.

The agreement also promotes business-to-business barter systems to improve farmers’ access to agricultural input and markets.

Potential bamboo investments

Caballero, meanwhile, highlighted various potential for investments, especially for the bamboo sector.

For food, the DA official cited bamboo shoots as an end-product and the utilization of bamboo for cooking rice.

A large-scale plantation mechanism is also seen as a source of livestock feeds, with bamboo leaves to be used for small and large ruminants; and as biocharcoal which serves as a mixing agent for compaction of soil.

“We know for a fact that biocharcoal for that matter, has been used centuries ago in Aztecs civilization kung saan ito ay napapaluwag niya ‘yung compaction ng soil kaya nakakahinga ng maayos ‘yung ating plants (wherein it expands the compaction of soil, enhancing the breathability of our plants),” Caballero said.

The official likewise said the mechanism will also boost the multi-story cropping system, allowing the integration of madre cacao, malunggay, vanilla, black pepper, and other root crops like kamote and ube, among others.

“This will now increase the investment value of a one-hectare plantation, not only for your bamboo, but also with the incorporation of a multi-story cropping system,” she said. (PNA)