Dar eyes 3-4% growth in agri sector

THE Philippines should post at least 3- to 4-percent growth in the agriculture sector in the next three years as part of efforts to attain food security in the country, according to the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) new chief.

In a briefing in Quezon City on Tuesday, Acting Agriculture Secretary William Dar told reporters that “[o]ur target should be [more than 2 percent].”
“Let’s say [that,] in the next three years, we should be aiming [for] 3 [to] 4 percent,” he said.

The official, a renowned agriculture export who is also a columnist of The Manila Times, also said he would push for programs focusing on increasing the productivity, competitveness and profitability of farmers and fishermen.

Doing so, he added, would enable the DA to ensure food security as the country’s population continues to grow.

“If our population growth rate is up to 1.8 percent, [then] we must [raise the agriculture growth rate higher] than that, so that there will be a slight allowance or that we will be assured of enough food,” Dar said.

In the last decade, the agriculture growth rate averaged 1.1 percent. Last year, the sector grew by only 0.56 percent, missing the 4-percent target the department set under the term of Dar’s predecessor, Emmanuel Piñol.

Dar said his department would advocate for programs anchored on the “new thinking” for agriculture, as it envisions a “food-secured Philippines with prosperous farmers and fisherfolk.”

To do this, he said he would prioritize the implementation of the Rice Tariffication Law and the utilization of the P10-billion Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) that farmers should get yearly from tariff collections on imported rice.

In the next 100 days, Dar wants to accelerate the implementation of RCEF and educate some 3 million farmers about the programs under the new rice regime.

He also aims to double the income of farmers and fishermen in the next five years through industrialization, promotion of exports, infrastructure development, and higher budget and investments, among others.

While Dar said he was open to the idea of importing goods, such as rice, meat and sugar, he clarified that the country should do so only with the required volume to offset the shortfall in local production.

“[F]ood security is the goal. If we cannot produce it here 100 percent and then the inadequacy will be imported. That’s food security,” Dar said.

He also expressed openness to more sugar imports to plug the shortfall in local production as the country enters the off-milling season.

Dar’s remarks come a day after President Rodrigo Duterte appointed him to replace Piñol, who was transferred to the Mindanao Development Authority.