And while certain produce like beans and corn may see a boom if exports increase, other industries, like citrus, are still on a decline. Last week we told you that CPBL has agreed to pay the Citrus Growers $18 per box for the 2023 - 2024 season - a historic amount. They credited this to the assistance being given by the government. Today Minister Mai said they're willing to help the industry stay afloat, but there's only so much they can do.
Jose Mai, Minister of Agriculture
"Government continues to dialogue with CPBL and CGA and BCM to ensure that we can reach an accord, to ensure that we can survive, we are pushing for the industry to survive, the Ministry of Agriculture's position is that we can help, and again this has not gone to Cabinet, but we have discussed with the technical people that we are prepared to subsidize the cost of seedlings plants that are resistant to the disease, but that is as far as we go. That has to go to Cabinet too, that is as far as I know the government is prepared to push."
