BUY-BACK PROGRAM. Former Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary and now Bohol Governor Arthur Yap says on Friday (Nov. 22, 2019) that farmers in the country should be assured that their products would be purchased through buy-back programs. He said the importation of rice and the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund also needed further studies. (PNA photo by Gail Momblan)
ILOILO CITY -- Former Department of Agriculture (DA) secretary and now Bohol Governor Arthur Yap said farmers need the assurance that their palay produce would be purchased.
Yap, who was in the city on Friday to visit the old Iloilo Airport that was turned into a business hub in Mandurriao district, said Bohol province is exploring the possibility of doing the same in the 26 hectares of idle land at the old Tagbilaran airport.
On the sidelines of his visit, he told reporters that rice importation in the country still needs deeper study.
"Let's study right now if it has a positive or negative impact," Yap said.
With the falling prices of palay, he said the farmers need “a necessary respite” and that the government needs to refocus on the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF).
“We have to pay attention to the rice fund, the RCEF, and make sure that it is given to the farmers, especially on the issues of post-harvest technology, and education and extension,” he said.
Yap said the reapplication of the RCEF should be studied for it to be distributed for more processing centers for the farmers and establish a buy-back program for their produce.
He said the DA is implementing the Survival and Recovery Assistance (SURE Aid) program, which offers a PHP15,000 loan to farmers, payable for eight years without interest.
This program of the agriculture sector urges farm workers to plant more, he said, but the DA should complement it with a buy-back program.
"You know farmers. You can promise them aid, technology, inputs, post-harvest (facilities). It doesn't mean anything to a farmer. All the farmer wants to know is 'When I harvest my palay, will you buy (it) and at what price?’" he said.
Yap said Bohol is consolidating the irrigated farm areas to provide the farmers with hybrid seeds. “If your farm is irrigated, you will move to hybrid and I will give you the buy-back program,” he said.
The former agriculture chief also noted that DA Secretary William Dar is also "smart" in tapping the local government units to help tackle the falling prices. (PNA)
