Significant changes in PH agri expected in 2 to 4 years

By Stephanie Sevillano, Philippine News Agency

FILE: Farmers plant rice seedlings in Sumapang Matanda, Malolos, Bulacan on Thursday (Sept. 14, 2023). (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

MANILA – Significant progress in the country’s agriculture sector is expected to happen in the next two to four years, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Friday.

During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said various modernization and new projects are underway to boost the agriculture production.

“You can expect in the next two to four years, there will be significant change sa ating buong (in our whole) agricultural economy and landscape,” he said.

De Mesa said many solar-powered irrigation projects will be funded next year while new Philippine Pipe Irrigation Network System is being constructed to help more farmers.

“Lahat na iyong conveyance system natin naka-pipe na, hindi na iyong open canal para maging episyente at mas maging modern (All our conveyance systems will be through pipe already, instead of open canal for it to be efficient and modern),” he said.

“Then iyong mga ating mga magsassaka mayroong tinatawag na (our farmers will have) hydrant — every one or two hectares, so they can easily control iyong kanilang mga (their) farms,” he added.

Besides irrigation improvement, De Mesa also mentioned setting up strategic ports in 17 key locations nationwide for more efficient transport and distribution of commodities, putting up cold storage and food terminals, policy transformations, and infrastructure projects, among others.

For unprogrammed projects, De Mesa highlighted the focus provided for the Mindanao region, indigenous people, and other rural areas in the country.

He said the DA has also World Bank-assisted projects, with around PHP1.25 billion in fund allocation, that will help more farmers, particularly in Mindanao.

These are the Philippine Rural Development Project and its scale up project; Fish Resiliency Core Project of the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources; and the Mindanao Inclusive Agri Development Project.

“Malaking bagay ito sa amin. Alam naman natin na priority ng ating pangulo, ng ating pamahalaan ang ating (This is a big help for us, we know that our President [President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.], our government, prioritize the) agri sector,” De Mesa said.