Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 9) — The growth in the local agricultural sector will not hit the 3.5 percent government target.
This is according to newly appointed Department of Agriculture (DA) acting secretary William Dar.
“Etong taong 2019, mabuti na kung maka-2 percent tayo,” Dar said in an interview on CNN Philippines’ Business Roundup.
[Translation: We’d be lucky if we hit 2 percent growth this 2019.]
Farm output shrank by 1.27 percent in the second quarter, according to latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.
READ: PH farm output drops in Q2 amid El Niño
Lower agriculture production has also lent itself to higher prices of food products, particularly rice.
This led to the passage of the rice tariffication law this February, which eased import restrictions on the staple.
Dar said that the implementation of the law, particularly its rice competitiveness fund, should be used to improve the lives of farmers.
“Pag-igtingin natin yung magandang pag-implementa ng rice competitiveness enhancement fund para sa kanayunan,” Dar said.
[Translation: Let us work on implementing the rice competitiveness enhancement fund properly for the people in rural areas.]
He said that the DA will work on restructuring ongoing plans and projects to improve not just the productivity of farmers and fisherfolk, but also their income.
“We need to reshape the existing plans, programs and projects para hindi lang masaganang ani ang titingnan para sa mga magsasaka at mangingisda. Bagkus titingnan din natin ang pag-taas ng kita ng ating mga mangingisda at magsasaka,” Dar said.
[Translation: We need to reshape the existing plans, programs and projects not just so our farmers and fisherfolk will have a better harvest. We should also look into improving their income.]
READ: Duterte appoints William Dar to replace Piñol as Agriculture Secretary.
A total of P8 billion will be taken from the rice tariffs for the rice competitiveness fund to benefit farmers— ₱5 billion for mechanization, ₱1 billion for seed development and distribution, ₱1 billion for financing and another ₱1 billion for skills training.
The department will also study the impact of climate change on agriculture development.
“We have to level up our resiliency and again, there are measures that we have to strengthen and put into place kung hindi pa (if they’re not there),” Dar said, citing early warning systems and disaster management programs.
