ROADMAP. Agriculture Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista says the department is fast-tracking plans to increase local food production and its affordability in the market, in a phone patch interview during the Laging Handa public briefing on Wednesday (July 20, 2022). She said the Department of Agriculture intends to accomplish its farm-to-market roadmaps the soonest possible time. (Screengrab)
MANILA – The Department of Agriculture on Wednesday said it will collaborate with other government departments to speed up the implementation of its agricultural plans on increasing yield by reconstructing the value-chain, crafting the farm-to-market roadmap (FMR), and holding government-to-government (G2G) talks, among others.
In the Laging Handa public briefing, DA Undersecretary Kristine Evangelista said these would help them achieve goals that will benefit farmers and ensure affordable food prices in the market.
“The plan is for this year, sir. So, we are looking at the activities that we have to put in place, including the necessary funding requirements to be able to attain the goal. The Kadiwa mobilization, again we also thought about involving the likes of FTI (Food Terminal Incorporated). So, mayroon din pong mga pag-uusap na magaganap, hindi lamang po (So there will be discussions that will happen, not only) within the department, but also, we will be talking to other government agencies that will also be able to help us,” she said.
Likewise, Evangelista noted that they are already working on the FMR master plan, which they wanted to accomplish in the "soonest possible time," while ensuring “proper validation with other government agencies.”
“But the whole master plan and the map that we were instructed to develop will reflect where are the production areas, the priority production areas, and where it will lead to going to the market and taking into consideration the route that it will have to take. Of course, that is something that can also be discussed with DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways),” she added.
The FMR will help farmers to easily bring their produce to the market, making it more affordable with the waiving of unnecessary layers in logistics.
The DA also vowed to submit these plans and roadmap to the administration’s economic team.
Besides this, Evangelista underscored the need for G2G talks, emphasizing it would significantly benefit the country’s farmers in securing good and quality harvests.
“Kung makuha po natin ang ating mga fertilizer na mas mababang halaga sa pamamagitan po ng government to government procurement, makikinabang po ang ating mga magsasaka, kasi nakita po natin iyong pagtaas ng presyo ng ating fertilizer (If we get fertilizers at a lower price through G2G procurement, our farmers would benefit from this, because saw the fertilizer price hike)…. So, the idea of finding a way to bring down the cost of fertilizer is one of the solutions to help our producers to be able to come up with a better yield,” she said.
Before the previous administration ended, prices of fertilizers tripled as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine persisted, having a rippling effect on prices of farm inputs internationally.
The DA, meanwhile, said consultations with sugar stakeholders are ongoing to come up with the suggested retail price (SRP), as its price continues to shoot up considering the threat of sugar shortage next month.
“Manipis po ang ating (There’s a thin) supply situation. That’s why they were recommending a need, and it is an immediate need to import sugar to be able to have more sugar available not only for our household’s consumption but for industrial use. This is something that we are discussing kasi noong una po, ang kanila pong in-import na base sa (earlier, what they have imported based on the) sugar order was basically [for] industrial use,” she said.
The DA and SRA are yet to resolve the matter, pending the completion of meetings with affected stakeholders. (PNA)
