Manila, Feb. 4 -- With geopolitical uncertainties affecting economies worldwide, it has become imperative for countries across the world to look inward to strengthen local industries and foster resilience to mitigate the impact of trade tensions and global supply chain disruptions.

Here in the Philippines, a low-hanging fruit that has long been underutilized is the agriculture sector. Despite its huge upside potential, the agriculture sector's contribution to the Philippine economy has been shrinking with increasing reliance on imports.

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that in the last quarter of 2024 alone, agriculture and fisheries production decreased to around PHP484 billion from PHP494 billion in the same period o...