THE Department of Agriculture (DA)-Davao reported that the investment requirement for interventions on the modernization plan of the agriculture and fisheries sectors in the region is about P84.9 billion from 2018 to 2023.
In the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Plan (AFMP), they estimated 3,382 interventions in 2018-2023. AFMP is a six-year plan that aims to enhance profitability and prepare for the challenges of globalization in these sectors.
In a phone interview Tuesday, May 14, DA-Davao focal person Noel Provido said they are still eyeing more investments especially for the priority commodities in the agriculture and fisheries sector.
“One of the things we are looking at for AFMP is the booming economy of the region. People from Luzon are coming to the region, especially Davao City. Increase of investors and tourists mean an opportunity the local market. So there is really a need to increase food production to supply the booming economy,” he said.
High-value crops will need the highest cost of investment at P34.7 billion, followed by rice (P21.7 billion), abaca (8.2 billion), corn (P7.3 billion), livestock and poultry (P5.8 billion), fisheries (P3.P8 billion), coconut (P2.5 billion), and organic agriculture (P816 million).
“We already conducted series of consultation with stakeholders to see necessary investments for various sectors in agriculture,” Provido said.
In the data from DA-Davao, 91 percent or around P77 billion of the total investment requirement will be funded by the DA and the remaining investment requirement will be sourced from participating national government institutions, local government unit, private sector, and the Official Development Assistance (ODA).
Davao City Agriculturists Office head Leo Brian Leuterio said yesterday that the directions of the AFMP will benefit the farmers and fisherfolks in the city.
He said with this plan, areas in the city that need to be prioritized are the Paquibato and Marilog Districts, especially for its farm to market roads, irrigation, among others.