The Department of Agriculture said the recent exportation of okra into South Korea is just part of a growing market for agricultural products in the Philippines that will benefit farmers.
PHILIPPINE farmers are assured of a more receptive overseas market for their produce, an official of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
In an interview, DA spokesperson Noel Reyes said the recent exportation of okra (lady’s fingers) into South Korea is just part of a growing market for agricultural products in the Philippines that will benefit farmers.
Some 1,800 kilo of okra were flown to South Korea last Sunday (June 6), in what government officials say a “milestone” in the country’s agricultural sector.
"Actually, matagal nang nag-eexport ang Pilipinas ng okra sa Japan," Reyes said during a taped interview that was aired on Wednesday's episode of "OpinYon News Ngayon."
Reyes said that preparations for exporting okra to South Korea took about ten years due to the sanitary protocols that Philippine products have to meet.
The DA official added that the green okra pods were sourced initially from Tarlac province, where agency-accredited farms and packing houses are located.
About 700 farmers and two companies were involved in exporting the okra to South Korea, he said.
“Mismong mga buyer na ang pumupunta rito [sa Pilipinas] at nagbibigay ng specifications,” Reyes also noted.
Reyes said consumers in South Korea can be assured that PH produce is “fresh from the farm” as they are immediately shipped abroad hours after being picked.
“Within 36 hours ay nasa merkado na ng Korea o ng Japan, at nasa shelves na ng groceries,” he noted.
See the full interview on OpinYon’s Youtube channel. (ONT)
Tags: #exports, #agriculture, #SouthKorea, #okra, #DepartmentOfAgriculture