The Philippines could fetch more than $100 million in investments for five major crops from international institutions, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the agency presented 27 proposals during the recent Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Hand-in-Hand Investment (HIHI) forum, which was held in its headquarters in Rome.
Officials made a pitch to international financial institutions and private investors, focusing on coffee, seaweed, mango, jackfruit, and cocoa. This aims to raise farmers’ incomes, generate economic opportunities in rural communities, and enhance climate resilience.
‘We had about 12 bilateral [meetings], so we can expect big investment…the minimum we can expect is $100 million,’ De Mesa recently told reporters.
This figure exceeded the $57.4 million in investments that the DA initially sought prior to presenting the projects in the international forum.
Of the five priority crops, De Mesa noted that projects on seaweed and coffee accounted for the lion’s share or more than 50 percent of the generated investments.
Earlier, the FAO said coffee and seaweed account for the largest investment requirements, at roughly $26.4 million and $24.8 million, respectively.
Additional proposals lean towards processing, machinery, and other value addition for mango, jackfruit, and cocoa.
The international agency noted that the Philippines’ investment profile offers an average projected internal rate of return of 24.6 percent, and a total estimated net present value of $42.2 million.
The proposals were developed through a collaboration between the DA, FAO, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), which are part of a broader effort to mobilize public and private financing for Philippine agriculture.
The agency said this moves beyond traditional development assistance towards investments that can deliver both financial returns and measurable development benefits.
FAO Representative in the Philippines Lionel Dabbadie said food security, rural prosperity, and climate resilience will not be achieved through isolated interventions.
‘They require investment at scale. The Hand-in-Hand Initiative brings together data, policy and finance to turn development priorities into investment opportunities,’ Dabbadie said.
‘The portfolio presented by the Philippines illustrates how partnerships between government, the private sector and international organizations can help de-risk investments and generate economic returns, while improving farmers’ livelihoods and strengthening the resilience of agrifood systems.’