DA holds talks on reg’l agri, fisheries modernization plan

The Department of Agriculture is conducting consultations in Mindanao for the drafting of the Regional Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Plan ( RAFMechP) that would fast-track the adoption of farm mechanization in the region.

RAFMechP is a component of the National Agricultural and Fisheries Mechanization Program ( NAFMP), implementation of which is mandated by the Agricultural and Fishery Mechanization (Afmech) Law signed in June 2013.

This will enable more farmers to have access to the counterpart funding scheme implemented by the government in the provision of farm machin- ery and to provide them with the technical knowledge on the operation of agriculture machines.

It will also lay down the groundwork for strengthening farm machinery manufacturing in the region.

According to the DA, ongoing consultations cover the proper support services needed in the region, the appropriate farm machineries for cultivation areas in Mindanao, the possibility of establishing local machinery manufacturing activities in the region to lower the cost of agriculture machines, and development of human resources.

The DA said it is now gathering suggestions from various stakeholders—farmers organizations, members of the academe, and local machine manufacturers—on the crafting of the mechanization roadmap in the region.

The NAMFP is six- year project covering fiscal years 2016 to 2022 with a proposed budget of P8.5 billion for 2016.

“The crafting of plans to be presented to the new administration is a significant step to enhance farm productivity,” DA region director Remelyn Recoter said.

“If the Philippines wants to be competitive with the Asean, Philippine agriculture needs to fully implement farm mechanization,” she added.