THE Department of Agriculture (DA) has unveiled a three-year plan that aims to increase agricultural productivity, lower food cost, ensure food security and make farming and fisheries a more bankable investment alternative.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. presented the plan during a Cabinet meeting wherein he emphasized the need to modernize agriculture to spread the benefits across the entire value chain.

“Farmers and fisherfolk should get fair value for their produce, prices of goods should be affordable, while traders, processors and retailers should be able to generate reasonable profits.

It’s important to address the decades old inequity where farmers and fishers do not really benefit from the fruits of their labor. We also envision making farming and fisheries viable for investors and a career option for young Filipinos,” Laurel said.

He disclosed that to achieve the vision, programs to be implemented in the three-year plan include the expansion and improvement of available agri-fishery areas to increase production; mechanization and modernization of agriculture and fishery production systems and development and improvement post-harvest systems and infrastructures.

Others include the development of efficient logistics systems for input and production output; improvement and expansion of market access; digitalization; proper balancing of both the development and regulatory role of the DA and strong partnership with farmers, fisherfolk and the private sector.

To expand production areas in both land and water, Laurel said DA needs to establish new irrigation facilities, zoning and identification of key areas as well as enhancing existing infrastructures.

The DA has started to build post-harvest facilities that will increase rice and corn inventory by 23 days to help lessen grain imports without increasing production areas and just reducing post-harvest losses.

Laurel explained that the multi-year program will cost around P93 billion which could be recovered in under nine years.

He said the DA will also appoint an assistant secretary for logistics to help optimize costs for everyone involved in the value chain, from producers down to consumers.

He said accurate and real-time data will enable stakeholders to make smarter, data-driven decisions and efficiently manage emergencies and day-to-day operations.

The DA chief is also looking at pushing legislative reforms to update certain laws and regulations that will allow the agency to act more nimbly and respond more timely to challenges facing the farm and fisheries sector.

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Cory Martinez