Facing an unprecedented challenge of rising commodity prices, the Department of Agriculture has full confidence that the new government will consolidate measures to enhance food security, with no less than President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. heading the department.
Outgoing Agriculture Secretary William Dar said the DA is bound to receive the attention it deserves, with President Marcos himself going the extra mile to give the agriculture and fisheries sector the utmost priority.
“His resolve to take the reins is a strong indication to this. We are confident this will augur an unprecedented ‘whole-of-government’ movement for the urgent attainment of food sovereignty in this time of crisis,” he said.
The DA prepared a transition report—outlining the short, medium, and long-term plans—to significantly increase the productivity of key commodities such as rice, corn, and fishery products and augment the incomes of farmers and fisherfolk.
It also took account of the current state of the agriculture sector and recommendations and policy proposals from various sectors.
As part of the strategy to address the food crisis, the DA drafted a list of programs that the incoming administration should prioritize—such as the balanced fertilization strategy which involves upscaling the use of bio-fertilizers and stimulants.
The DA said it is also crucial to increase the budget for fuel and fertilizer to subsidize the cost of important commodities such as vegetables, following the uptick in global fuel prices.
Other priority activities under the “Plant, Plant, Plant” program are local feeds formulation and production; urban and peri-urban farming; aquaculture and mariculture production; and food mobilization through the Kadiwa marketing program.
The DA is working on the proposed creation of the Bureau of Agri-Industry and Cooperatives Development and institutionalization of the Kadiwa marketing program as well as the development of a food terminal system.
It proposed the transfer of the Food Terminal Inc. back to the DA from the Office of the President.
The said policy recommendations were drafted to strengthen agriculture cooperatives and associations and help establish an efficient food value chain and logistics system to stabilize food prices, tame inflation and provide farmers and fishers bigger incomes.
“We have crafted a 10-year national agriculture and fisheries modernization and industrialization plan, and we fervently hope the President-elect will favorably consider it to attain our joint aspiration of food security and food sovereignty in the next six years,” the DA said.