Presidential candidates must address agri sector concerns

AGRICULTURE is the laggard sector in our economy. The presidential candidates must address this problem immediately as this concerns our food security and the fate of the poor. If the presidential candidates ignore this, their promise of a better future will be empty.

On Feb. 5, 2016, 600 agriculture stakeholders will ask the presidential candidates what their concrete plans are for agriculture. This will be held at the Bahay Alumni of the University of the Philippines in Diliman. Each candidate will be given separate time slots. They will also be asked questions from the audience and a panel composed of representatives from the initial four forum convenors: Alyansa Agrikultura (AA), representing farmers and fisherfolk; Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Fisheries Inc. (PCAFI), representing agribusiness; Coalition of Agriculture Modernization in the Philippines (CAMP), representing the academe, and Agriculture Fisheries 2025 (AF2025), representing elected leaders from the three aforementioned sectors at a February 2011 multi-sectoral conference.

The two-day AF2025 conference objective was to craft an agriculture and fisheries vision for 2025, with the corresponding short and long term policies and programs. The 200 agricultural leaders expected much from the conference sponsors: Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala and the two chairs of the Congressional Agriculture Committees (Sen. Francis Pangilinan and Rep. Mark Mendoza).

The conference was divided into five clusters that mirrored the committees in the legislated public-private Philippine Agriculture and Fisheries Council (PCAF). These clusters and elected leaders are: Rice and Food crops (Emil Javier); Livestock, Poultry and Feed crops (Gregorio San Diego, succeeded by Jose Elias Inciong); Fisheries (Arsenio Tanchuling); Fruits and Vegetables (Robert Amores), and Commercial crops (Rolando Dy succeeded by Philip Young).

There was also a group on cross-cutting issues such as credit, women empowerment and anti-smuggling. It is composed of leaders including former Agriculture Secretary Senen Bacani, Economic Planning Secretary Cielito Habito, and Amparo Mesiano. They decided to retain AF2025, but concentrate on institution-building by joining and strengthening the PCAF committees.

Agri vs industry

The table below shows that the DA budget increased while agriculture growth decreased. It also shows how this growth was only 27 percent of the growth of industry. This is despite the fact that the DTI’s budget remained below P5 billion during the period and was less than 5 percent of the DA budget in 2015.

At an AF2025 leaders meeting on Dec. 12, the consensus was that AF2025 policy and program recommendations were generally not implemented. The consequent poor agricultural performance was therefore not surprising. Alcala’s efforts were recognized and appreciated. He, however, did not get the desired support from the bureaucracy.

These leaders fear that the same lack of support for agriculture may occur in the next six years. That is why they are convening the Feb. 5 presidentiable forum on agriculture.

Key Issues

Some of the key issues that came up during last Saturday’s meeting were stated by cluster:

“For rice, the 35-percent tariff that will take effect in 2017 poses severe danger to our food security and rice farmer livelihoods. Until today, there is no clear policy and plan to address this. What direction will be followed?

“For livestock and feeds, our farmers are competitive. But our government is not competitive with our neighboring countries in terms of the subsidies they give their farmers. What support will be provided?

“For fisheries, our small fishers are being displaced by large operators in municipal waters reserved for them, as well as subdivision and tourism projects with no plan for the lost livelihood of displaced fishers. What policy will be pursued?

“For fruits and vegetables, where we have great comparative advantage, we lack certified seeds with the supporting technology and marketing system. What budget support will be given?

“For commercial crops, coconut is the top priority. This is the poorest and most exploited sector, which is deprived of their coconut levy and where 2 out of 3 million hectares of coconut land lie idle and intercropping is not being done. How will this be corrected?

“For cross-cutting issues, the need to know what to do (effective roadmaps) and how to implement them properly (efficient management systems such as ISO 9000) is perceived to be sorely lacking. The DTI has submitted 29 roadmaps to the Philippine Institute of Philippine Studies and has required its units to have ISO 9000. The DA, however, has not submitted any roadmap yet and has very few ISO 9000 registered units.

“Other issues such as credit and insurance, technology and marketing, women empowerment and anti-smuggling are key issues that should be addressed with specific programs and budgets.

The presidential candidates must provide concrete and credible plans to address our ailing agriculture sector. The Feb. 5 agriculture forum featuring our presidentiables will reveal if this will happen or not.

(The author is chair of Agriwatch, former Secretary for Presidential Flagship Programs and Projects, and former Undersecretary for Agriculture, Trade and Industry. e-mail [email protected] or telefax (02) 852-2112).