President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday said that the agriculture sector will always be an important contributor to the nation’s economy, noting that it should continuously be developed for the country to prosper.
In his speech during the 125th Founding Anniversary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), the President underscored the importance of agriculture to the growth and development of the Philippine economy.
“Agriculture is and will always be an important contributor to our national economy. In the first quarter of 2023, the agriculture sector grew by 2.2 percent while contributing 9.1 percent to our total gross domestic product,” the chief executive noted.
“And every analysis, kahit hindi magsasaka ang gagawa ng analysis, kahit na ‘yung mga nasa bangko, kahit na ‘yung (mga) World Bank, (mga) ADB (Asian Development Bank), lagi nilang sinasabi hindi aahon ang ekonomiya ninyo kung hindi gaganda ang agrikultura ninyo dahil lahat ng ating ginagawa sa ekonomiya ay pinagbabasehan ay ang matibay at masigla na agricultural sector,” the President added.
The President, who also serves as Agriculture Secretary, said that despite some modest gains, there are still several undertakings ahead to improve the sector through several programs and projects.
“Kaya’t kailangan natin pagmasdan, pag-aralan at bantayan ‘yung mga iba’t ibang pwersa na nararamdaman natin na kung minsan nagiging sagabal sa ating performance. ‘Yan ‘yung mga decreasing productivity, climate change, diminishing natural resources, at nagbabago rin ang ating market,” President Marcos aid.
“But through the years, the DA banner programs and projects have continuously provided farm inputs, credit assistance, equipment, machinery, production and post-harvest facilities. Kasama na rin diyan ang farm-to-market roads at ang ating mga irrigation para pagandahin ang ating productivity,” he added.
The President said that the DA will continue to come up with interventions to advance agri-fishery practices, improve the competitiveness of our agri-fishery products, and further boost the income of Filipino farmers and fisherfolk.
“Let us continue to engage in collaborative dialogue with experts, researchers, [and] rural workers to solve the roots of the lingering problems,” the President said.
“Learn and adopt climate-resilient and cutting-edge agricultural technologies so that we can be prepared for prospective contingencies,” he added.
President Marcos also pointed out that the country must adopt and use the latest technologies and best practices that will not only boost the nation’s productivity and quality of life of Filipinos but “will also open more doors to investments and market opportunities for our friends from outside of the Philippines.”
The President also recognized the efforts of the personnel of DA and all of its attached agencies and bureaus for their valuable contribution and dedication to serving and shaping the country’s society.
“If there is one thing that I had always recognized, I really came to realize this when I was Governor of Ilocos Norte and I was trying to promote some of the agricultural sectors, ‘yung aquaculture namin, ‘yung aming rice expansion. Lahat ng ating ginawa na pati na sa pagbabayad ng mga inputs, if there is one thing I learned at that time, ang dami talagang magagaling na tao sa Department of Agriculture,” he pointed out.
“At marami talaga na – wala talagang iniisip at wala ng ibang ginagawa kung hindi makahanap ng paraan para pagandahin ang buhay ng ating mga magsasaka, para patibayin ang ating tinatawag na food supply,” the President said.
He added that all the goals and targets of the DA would eventually be attained because the elements needed to make them a reality are already present.
“We have all the different elements that are required. We have the expertise. We have the experience. We have the knowledge. We have the motivation to make things work. And so that is why – that is what we are trying to do, to put all your efforts into a single plan that everyone can follow,” the President said.
“Kaya naman para magkaroon tayo ng madalas na marinig na sinasabi na tayo ay mag-coordinate and there will be a symbiosis of our work and we will come to see that these far-reaching goals that we have put before us can actually be achieved, that they will come,” he pointed out. #
