Agriculture Secretary William Dar on Tuesday urged provincial authorities and other stakeholders to help promote the campaign against poverty and hunger, reiterating the need to increase food production in the country.
In his speech during the ceremonial launching of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund-Rice Farmers Financial Assistance in Pampanga that was livestreamed via Facebook, Dar said the outgoing administration’s efforts must be sustained beyond the elections.
“The elections have just concluded, national and local, but we in the agriculture sector, our campaign is still ongoing, what kind of campaign? Campaign against poverty and hunger. Can you join us [in our campaign?” he said in Filipino.
Dar made his statements as he reiterated his warning regarding the looming global food crisis in Pampanga, saying the entire country could be affected by it.
With the tripling prices of fertilizers, the secretary indicated a problematic instance if the country fails to secure an adequate supply of input products and food supply.
“Even if you have money, but you have nowhere to buy, that will be our problem. That’s the campaign we would like to have in the country, this is our campaign, our campaign to increase harvest, to increase the income of our farmers and fishers,” he said in Filipino.
Meanwhile, Dar assured sufficient assistance from the national government for this to materialize, through the existing Rice Tariffication Law, as it provides a PHP10-billion fund for farmers’ aid, with exceeding collections still allotted for subsidy.
“‘The Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, PHP10 billion annually, [where] PHP5 billion is for machinery, PHP3 billion for seeds, certified seeds in bread, and PHP1 billion for extension, training, and capital,” he noted.
For Pampanga beneficiaries, the DA has distributed PHP302.08 million worth of assistance to farmers and fishers. (By Stephanie Sevillano, PNA)
