THE Provincial Government of Negros Occidental is crafting a five-year agriculture development plan amid the pressing challenges hounding the sugar industry.
Provincial Agriculturist Japhet Masculino Tuesday, January 29, said the province is initiating the Negros First Transformative Agriculture Summit at Natures Village Resort in Talisay City Thursday, January 31.
Masculino said the summit will be highlighted by the creation of an agricultural development plan, or roadmap specifically for Negros Occidental, involving various stakeholders.
“As we are not certain of the future of the sugar industry, at least sugar planters will have the option as to what crops they can adopt and divert to,” he said, adding that the implementation period of the agricultural development starts this year up to 2023.
It can be recalled that there’s a proposal to liberalize or deregulate the importation of sugar in the country.
Being the lifeblood of Negros, the sugar industry is seen to collapse if such move by the government pushes through thereby affecting thousands of Negrenses including planters, producers, and small farmers.
Themed “Redefining Negros Rural Landscape,” the one-day summit will be attended by provincial government officials led by Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., mayors of different local government units (LGUs), business and other private sector organizations, planters, and farmers, among other stakeholders.
The activities include discussions on industry situations and breakout sessions where participants will list down suggestions and recommendations on how to develop various agricultural sectors.
Prior to the summit, Masculino said they already identified four major sectors such as crops, livestock, fisheries, and non-forest products.
For crops alone, the province has also identified specific commodities including rice, corn, sweet potato, banana, coffee, and cacao.
Masculino said the summit will highlight the situation of each of these crops as well as those of other sectors, with emphasis on the whole value chain – from production to the market.
“The result of the breakout session will be used as a basis in coming up with our agriculture development plan,” he said, adding that through the roadmap, the province is optimistic to achieve its target in each of the sectors within the five-year period.
The plan will also serve as the basis of the government in allocating and sourcing resources, or putting a processing plant, for instance, mechanization, and other measures.