September 12, 2025 | 12:00am
MANILA, Philippines — The federal government will broaden its imports of Indian buffalo meat in a bid to decrease meals prices and assist native processors, a part of wider efforts to deepen agricultural cooperation with India.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. pointed to current authorities steps to broaden the nation’s meat imports throughout a discussion board yesterday with India’s Agricultural and Processed Meals Merchandise Export Improvement Authority (APEDA) at Dusit Lodge in Makati.
“I’m additionally happy to tell you that below the management of our President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., we’ve accredited extra crops for importing Indian buffalo meat to decrease the price of processed meals to shoppers,” Tiu Laurel stated.
He additionally signaled plans to make buffalo meat out there on to shoppers.
“We’re additionally learning opening the retail meat marketplace for Indian buffalo meat to supply an inexpensive protein supply for our shoppers,” he stated.
Buffalo meat has lengthy been a key Philippine import from India, with demand pushed primarily by meals processors.
The DA stated whole agri-fishery commerce between the 2 international locations grew to $554.87 million in 2024 from $445.8 million in 2023, with imports leaning closely towards Indian merchandise.
Tiu Laurel stated increasing buffalo meat imports is a part of broader cooperation with India, protecting livestock, dairy, rice, meals processing and post-harvest programs.
In the meantime, Indian Ambassador to the Philippines Shri Harsh Kumar Jain famous that India’s agri-food exports to the Philippines reached $413 million in 2024, out of a complete bilateral commerce of $3.4 billion.
“India and the Philippines share related climatic zones and agricultural situations, which affords large potential for cooperation,” Jain stated throughout the identical occasion.
Jain added that the state go to of Marcos to India final month served as an vital landmark within the bilateral relations between the 2 international locations.
He additionally stated the 2 sides signed a declaration that lays down instructions to raise ties to strategic degree and a plan of motion to implement it.
“The plan of motion seeks to extend the present ranges of commerce and funding amongst different issues and streamline the planning of market entry for agri-products, meat and dairy merchandise and promote funding cooperation in agriculture,” he stated.
