Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar awarded P461-M worth of agri-fishery projects and interventions to farmers’ groups in Tupi, South Cotabato during a farmers’ forum on September 5, 2019. The projects included farm machineries and production inputs under the Department of Agriculture’s rice, corn, high-value crops, and livestock programs.

In his speech, Dar cited Mindanao as a great contributor to the national economy.

“Mindanao has the role to enhance our export products because it has the best climate and the soil that can provide the impetus to really plan and deliver the products at the global market,” Dar said.

The agri chief added that given the attributes suitable for food production, Mindanao must be accorded priority in the agri-industrialization plan of the government.

Dar also enumerated several mechanisms that the government could tap to level up the country’s agriculture sector. One is that the budget and investment for Philippine agriculture must match its needs.

“The increased budget will help unlock the bigger potential contributions of agriculture and agribusiness to the economy, including more employment opportunities,” he said.

In view of the emerging issue on the low buying price of palay, Dar announced that 30 provincial governments have already pledged their support to allot funds to bankroll palay including the buying, drying, milling, and rice marketing.

The Secretary explained that the rice procurement program will help farmers recover from income losses brought about by the dropping farmgate prices and rice importation.

“Investments from the local government units will add to that of the National Food Administration to buy rice from farmers,” Dar said. ### (Rita T. dela Cruz)