BAGUIO CITY—Fearful of the impact of free trade by 2015, Agriculture Undersecretary Segfredo Serrano and Benguet officials urged vegetable farmers last week to seek higher farm subsidies and strengthen the vegetable industry in the region.
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations Free Trade Agreement (Afta) will take effect in two years, and will lead to the free entry of crop imports.
Serrano said the Department of Agriculture had tried to convince budget managers to increase allocations to the agricultural sector.
He said a strong lobby effort from the sector, including resolutions from this year’s National Vegetable Congress, should help the DA fight for a higher allocation in the 2014 national budget.
“Provide us with armaments. Use this congress to provide us concrete resolutions for support in the fight for a higher budget,” he told the congress delegates.
Food producers have long relied on the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act of 1997 (Republic Act 8435) to help improve productivity and farm efficiency. But because of the growing global market, the law may lapse soon, said Serrano.
“You (vegetable industry stakeholders) need to get involved and to speak louder for your industry,” he said.
Serrano’s pitch was supported by Benguet Rep. Ronald Cosalan, who also spoke at the congress.
“How could we compete if our budget is so small compared to other countries that have well-subsidized products?” Cosalan said. “We need to organize ourselves to be able to talk as one, have a louder voice, show our strength. We cannot keep quiet.”
He said 30 percent of the DA budget goes to the fisheries sector, and the remaining 70 percent sustains agricultural production.
But only 5 percent of the farm budget goes to the vegetable industry since the government invests heavily in corn and rice production, he said.
Afma was enacted to provide safety nets for the food sector, Cosalan said, adding that Congress appropriates P60 billion annually for farm.
“But how much of this goes to the vegetable industry?” he asked.
Benguet Gov. Nestor Fongwan said vegetable-producing regions must unite to survive globalization.
“Gone are the days when competition was just among the different provinces and regions in the country,” he said. “Can we compete globally?”