DA budget should be hiked to P300 B – Dar

The budget for the agriculture sector should be tripled to P300 billion next year to strengthen and elevate the industry, a former secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

"We would like to more than triple the existing budget, it's a good start. If there's P96 billion today, why not P300 billion to start 2017?" former DA Secretary and Inang Lupa Movement president William Dar said.

Dar said the department should focus on sustaining the gains in the rice and corn program and enhancing high value commodity and agri-industrial hubs.

Furthermore, Dar said additional funding for research and development should be allocated, increasing up to P6 billion from the existing P2 billion.

"We should develop more of the high value crops, new hybrids, new varieties so that we can be competitive with the rest of the world," he said.

In terms of climate change mitigation, Dar said the department should elevate its agenda on soil rejuvenation, rain water harvesting, agro- forestry approach in far- flung areas, tree planting, and coconut planting among others.

"More vegetation means more mitigation because it absorbs more carbon. Farmers in communities have to be more empowered in terms of knowledge and technology in using climate resilient crops and varieties," Dar said.

With the public- private partnership ( PPP) program of the Aquino administration, Dar said the agricultural sector should also be involved in projects that would help in the big infrastructure needed in the farming industry.

The former secretary added that higher rice self-sufficiency in the country could be attained through promoting newer technologies such as hybrids, which are considered one of the strong innovations today.

"We aim to sustain the efforts of up to 95 percent or higher rice self- sufficiency level to ensure food security and be competitive in the ASEAN region," Dar said.

Dar