Agri-sector Gets P85.6-B Budget Boost in 2015

The National Government is targeting the country’s agriculture sector as one of its top priorities for development this year, allotting P85.63 billion for its Agricultural Development Program, the Department of Budget and Management said on Wednesday.

DBM further said that the Department of Agriculture (DA) is among the top 10 departments that received a priority share of the 2015 National Budget, obtaining P89.2 billion as their budget for this year. This is an increase of 11.4 percent from P80 billion in 2014.

“Many Filipinos, especially those in the poorest regions of our country, still depend on farms and fisheries for their livelihood. Projects that promote inclusive growth will ensure that farmers and fisherfolk will be able to participate in our thrust to maximize the country’s agri-business potential,” Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio “Butch” Abad said.

The Administration’s Agricultural Development Program is designed to make the agriculture and fisheries sector more competitive and productive even as it empowers farmers, fisherfolk, and other stakeholders to improve their income. As such, the P85.63-billion fund will support a number of projects, activities, and projects of the National Government that will benefit agri-business development.

Under the DA, P21.8 billion will be invested in various programs to promote a more diversified, intensive, high-value, and market-oriented crop and livestock production in terms of Agriculture Commodity Support. These include the following:

· Rice Program – P7 billion will be allotted to enable the production of 20.09 million metric tons of rice per hectare through production support, research, and development, and the provision of post-harvest facilities in 1,705 farmer groups.

· Fisheries Program – P4.6 billion will be allotted to enable the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) to support the production target of 4.9 million metric tons (commercial – 1.103 million metric tons; municipal – 1.312 million metric tons; aquaculture – 2.485 million metric tons). This, in turn, will help government efforts to promote fishery resources protection and law enforcement, investment on people, and research and technology.

· Coconut Program – P4.1 billion will be allotted to Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), which will be used to help produce 2.81 million metric tons of coconuts and copra. It will also be used to uplift the well-being of coconut farmers, construct farm-to-market roads (FMR), plant/replant coconut trees, develop coconut agro-industrial hubs, and help eradicate and control pests.

· Corn Program – P2.3 billion will be allotted to fast track the production of 2.75 million metric tons of white corn, 6.27 million metric tons of yellow corn, and 3.87 million metric tons of cassava.

· High-Value Crops Program – P2.2 billion will be allotted to support agricultural diversification and to promote the production of high-value crops, especially in the poorest regions of the Philippines. This fund will used to provide facilities and equipment to produce 2.6 million metric tons of pineapple, 865,910 metric tons of mangoes, and 9.17 million metric tons of bananas, among other high-value crops.

· Livestock and Poultry Program – P1.616 billion will be allotted to bolster the production of livestock, including 2.1 million metric tons of hogs and 1.72 million metric tons of chicken. This fund will also help rural economies develop enterprises and increase farmers’ income while aiming for global competitiveness.

Aside from supporting farmers and fisherfolk in boosting crop and livestock production, the National Government will also help agricultural communities in improving their productivity, reducing their costs, and improving their access by building more agriculture infrastructure. These include the following:

· Irrigation – P22.2 billion will be used by the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) to cover 27,672 hectares and restore 28,282 hectares of service areas.

·Farm-to-Market Roads (FMRs) – P14.5 billion will be used for the construction of FMRs that will connect farmers to bigger markets and more consumers.

·Fishery Infrastructure – P1.29 billion will be used to build fishery infrastructure, which includes P756 million for the construction of fish landings in 252 sites and P534 million for the establishment of 26 municipal fish ports.

Abad said, “For the agricultural sector, the road to sustained economic growth will depend on the development of the country’s agri-business industry. With the increase in agricultural productivity and farmers’ income, stakeholders in the sector will be able to enjoy our country’s robust economic performance.” (DBM)