OFWs urged to venture into agriculture

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) is urging overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) to jumpstart any agriculture and fishery ventures should they decide to return home amid the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19 pandemic.

Agriculture Secretary William Dar recently had a virtual meeting with the Office of the Philippine Agriculture Attaché, Philippine Embassy and the Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Washington to persuade OFWs to venture into agriculture, fishery, and agribusiness enterprises should they decide to return home or invest on behalf of their families.

Dar said there are a number of livelihood and agribusiness opportunities in the  countryside.

With the slowdown in the global economy due to the pandemic, the Department of Labor and Employment forecasts that by December 2021, at least one million OFWs will be displaced and will be forced to return home.

As of last month, there were already 323,537 OFWs displaced from their jobs, and a big chunk of them came from the Middle East.

For his part, Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romualdez said agribusiness in the country is a bright spot for investment.

“With the DA’s programs to support agribusiness ventures, and Secretary Dar’s responsiveness to arising issues, and openness to modern technology and initiatives to enhance public and private partnership, including with foreign partners, I have no doubt that the country will be able to attract more resources, technological innovations, and partners in the Philippine agribusiness sector,” Romualdez said.

Dar has presented current major DA programs that could support agribusiness ventures that returning OFWs and their families may consider to engage or invest in.

He also shared other DA support programs like financial assistance, technical and production training, scholarships, livelihood development and agri-fishery enterprises.

Among the loan programs implemented by the DA through its Agricultural Credit and Policy Council are the Expanded SURE-Aid and Recovery Project for micro and small enterprises, and for marginalized, small farmers and fishers; Agri-Negosyo for micro and small enterprises; and Kapital Access for Young Agripreneurs for start-up or existing agri-based projects.

“We wanted these programs properly in place so that we can lure our OFW-returnees to invest in the country and contribute to the growth of the sector,” Dar said.