DA urged to ensure food security in countryside

IN VIEW  of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program (BP2), Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go on Tuesday urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to boost household food security programs in the countryside to ensure that the basic needs of BP2 beneficiaries are sustained once they have relocated to their home provinces.   

"I urge the DA to continuously roll out and implement programs to ensure that Filipinos, especially the BP2 beneficiaries, have adequate food on the dining table, with or without a health crisis,” Go said.

“More specifically, dapat mas pagtuunan ng pansin ng DA ang household food security ng mga magbabalik-probinsya (the DA should focus more on household food security for those returning to the provinces),” he said, emphasizing the importance of agriculture and food security to the success of BP2.

The chair of the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and proponent of the Balik Probinsya initiative said that among the programs for household food security that need to be strengthened include, among others, the provision of vegetable seeds and support for backyard poultry raising.

Since the close coordination and partnership between local government units (LGUs) and the DA is also vital in ensuring household food security in the country, he also urged local governments nationwide to implement their own food security programs that would be applicable to their localities.

“Mahalaga rin po ang role ng LGUs sa food security ng bansa. Kaya dapat lamang po na magkaroon din sila ng sarili nilang mga programang pang-food security ayon po sa guidelines ng DA (The role of LGUs is also vital to the country’s food security. They also need to have their own food security programs in accordance with DA guidelines),” Go said.

“With the help of these programs, Filipinos will be able to plant or do backyard poultry farming, paving the way for agri-preneurs to start their own food enterprises,” he added.

Go said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) could consider allowing DA to realign its funds in so far as the law permits, to ensure ample funds to implement the agency’s existing programs supportive of BP2.

These programs include the provision of various inputs, such as machinery, tools, and equipment to agricultural workers; and the provision of low- or zero-interest credit and establishment of credit facilities, such as Sikat Saka Program for rice and corn farmers, Survival and Recovery Loan for victims of calamities, and Production Loan Easy Access for crops, livestock, fisheries projects.

The DA also provides free training and seminars on rice production, modern rice farming techniques, seed production and farm mechanization to farmers; and implements the Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Marketing Program which establishes a direct link between the farmers/fisherfolk and the consuming public, ensuring that farmers get the best prices for their goods, while providing affordable, safe, and nutritious produce to Filipino consumers.

“There are still hundreds of hectares of agricultural lands and unlimited water resources that can be utilized for livelihood in the provinces. We have seen how the pandemic broke the global supply chains of the food sector. Now is the time to ensure that we are food self-reliant and to reduce our dependence on global trade when it comes to food. Now, more than ever, we need to promote and support food security and agriculture in the country," Go said.