THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is pushing for local food management measures as the agency foresees further chokepoints in the global food supply chain leading to upward pressures on food production costs that can results to higher prices of goods.

'The agriculture sector this year will confront global challenges, such as other countries stockpiling fertilizers and fuel prices going up. Our country will have to contend with rising consumer prices, as the rest of the world, even developed countries, is doing,' Agriculture Secretary William Dar said in a statement on Saturday.