CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA)--The Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Northern Mindanao Area Management Office cited the need to grow more food as three million families in the country are still suffering from hunger, according to an SWS survey.

In Talakayan sa PIA at SM CDO Downtown Premier, Lordilie Enjambre, MinDA Area Management Office Officer In Charge, shared, “Actually we are good but not as good as we would want to be.”

Based on the 2022 Global Hunger Index, the Philippines ranked 69 of the 121 countries with respect to the level of hunger.

This is a moderate level, she said.

But in a survey also conducted by SWS, they are saying that more or less, 3 million families in the country are actually suffering from hunger.

“That means that we really have to improve and do something, promote food and security and sustainability so that every family in the country will really be able to eat substantial food on a daily basis,” she said.

MinDA is working closely with the Department of Agriculture in terms of ensuring food security and sustainability not just for Mindanao but for the entire country through various programs, particularly in digitalization where the pilot area is Misamis Oriental.

Minda Tienda is also another program implemented by MinDA because another crucial problem for farmer groups aside from capitalization is the market.

“Where would they sell their produce?” she said.

This is one way of motivating the farmers to grow more because they have ready buyers for their produce, so they are assured of income because at the end of the day, the bottom line is always important and that is income for the farmers.

MinDa is part of the big event Mindanao Food Congress together with Oro Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Oro Chamber) slated on October 26-28, 2022 at Limketkai Luxe Hotel where it will help craft and support resolutions to promote food security and sustainability. (JMOR/PIA10)