Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said Monday the government is promoting sustainable agriculture to ensure sufficient supply of and affordablly-priced food for future generations.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Farmers and Fisherfolk Month, Sec. Tiu Laurel said underscored the role of agriculture stakeholders in economic development, job creation and in ensuring stable food supply and prices.
Agriculture accounts for one in every four jobs while food has a major contribution in the consumer price basket that determines the inflation rate—a key metric that the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas looks at in determining interest rates.
“We need to ensure that future generations can rely on this sector by making agriculture sustainable through the promotion of environmental stewardship, enhancement of biodiversity, and mitigation of climate change impacts,” Sec. Tiu Laurel said.
He said this could be achieved by adopting modern and sustainable farming practices, improving competitiveness and profitability, and mechanizing farm operations to increase yield and lower production cost.
“We must continue supporting and empowering our food producers, processors, and other agri-fishery stakeholders by modernizing and mechanizing Philippine agriculture,’ he added.
In a separate speech at the Farmers and Fisherfolk month event, DA Undersecretary for Operations Roger Navarro said the month-long celebration recognizes the contribution of farmers and fisherfolk in driving progress the countryside and ensuring national food security.
“The work that Filipino farmers and fisherfolk accomplish day-in and day-out, from sunrise to sunset, puts food on our tables, drives the national economy, and preserves our way of life,” Navarro said. “We are determined to foster an environment in which all farm and fishery enterprises can grow and thrive,” he added.
Undersecretary Navarro said the DA will ensure wider access to farm machinery, infrastructure, new technologies and adequate training to create jobs and investment opportunities in the farm and fishery sectors. ###
