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Tuesday, December 16, 2003
Espinoza: Giving agriculture importance
By Fred C. Espinoza
POOR.Wu Lianqi, China’s consul general in Cebu, hit the nail on the head when he gave due importance to the role of the agricultural sector in dealing with poverty. A citizen of a big country which has done much to feed a huge population, the Chinese diplomat appealed to Southeast Asian nations, including the Philippines, “to modernize agriculture; otherwise, the rural folk will remain in poverty.”
Although our government may have scored successes in providing an integrated approach to the country’s food security program, as spelled out under the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (Afma), not much has been done to speed up the implementation of the provisions of the law that would have helped farmers in the production and marketing of their products.
If you ask some sectors in the business community in Cebu, the most that could be said about Afma is that public hearings and briefings were made by government officials on the significant features of the law in addition to the assurance that the law would be supported with adequate funds, a promise that has not been fulfilled.
We can only sympathize with the well-meaning officials in the department who are doing a yeoman’s job of trying to lighten the burden of our farmers.
Nevertheless, we feel that the poor farmers are aware of the efforts by the department to help them.
LENDING. As Agriculture Undersecretary Celestino Martinez pointed out, Department of Agriculture (DA) officials are coordinating with agencies in lending money to the farmers at minimal interest to help them improve their farms. In addition, the department is coordinating with local governments in the fielding of development technicians to help farmers improve production.
To bring out the true spirit of Afma, it has been suggested that the DA also give the seaweed farmers importance by supporting their development proposals espoused by the Seaweed Industry Association of the Philippines (Siap).
The Siap is trying to strengthen the seaweed industry as one of the nation’s export winners. It has proposed the creation of a national technical working committee to be composed of the bureau directors of five government agencies.
At present, there is a threat of a shortage in the supply of dried seaweeds. The industry is looking at an annual production shortage of 25,000 tons, which needs to be addressed.
At a time when the government is focused on providing clean and orderly elections next year, Siap leaders are keeping their fingers crossed that the government will still be able to support them in programs to develop more cluster-seaweed production areas in the country.
(December 16, 2003 issue)
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