President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Wednesday stressed the immediate need to modernize the agriculture and fisheries sector, as part of the efforts to make the Philippines a “food- and nutrition-secure” nation.
Marcos made the remark during the celebration of the 70th founding anniversary of the Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) at the Salvador Escudero Hall of the National Meat Inspection Service on Visayas Avenue, Quezon City.
“This administration is steering the growth of our fisheries and farming industries with urgency,” he said, noting that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has allocated PHP4.73 billion as an investment for the large-scale agriculture and fishery mechanization and modernization.
Marcos, who also leads the DA, expressed optimism about realizing his bid to modernize the agri-fisheries industry, given the allocation of PHP85.88 billion for the sector in 2023 and the proposed allotment of PHP92.4 billion in 2024.
He said his administration is striving to implement efficient mechanization strategies to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure the optimal yield at an affordable cost.
He said the government is also doing its best to increase the exportation of the country’s agricultural products, acknowledging that the move is “an essential driver in the competitiveness of our economy.”
“In line with that collective mission, I wish to reaffirm one of the top priorities of this administration, which is the enhancement of our agricultural productivity, the guarantee of our food supply, the affordability of our food supply, and our lessening dependence on importation,” Marcos said.
“This includes pursuing policies that will support and protect the overall welfare of our farmers, our fishers, our manufacturers, and the consuming public,” he added.
Marcos also hoped for a closer collaboration with the FFF, as he recognized its long-standing cooperation and partnership with the government in sustaining development in the areas of agri-fisheries, agrarian reform, and agricultural cooperatives.
He assured the organization that the government is pursuing the strengthening of various agricultural associations and cooperatives, to provide beneficiaries with business and investment opportunities.
“This will definitely elevate the standard of living, improve the lives of the farmers and our fishers and that of their families,” Marcos said.
“You have solidified your presence over the past seven decades, and I eagerly anticipate an even deeper collaboration, given our shared commitment. I thus enjoin all the men and women of FFF to continuously take part in supporting and empowering our farmers and fisherfolk.”
Since its inception in 1953, the FFF has been at the forefront of the struggle to liberate Filipino farmers from social, political, economic, moral and cultural oppression.
To date, the FFF enjoys a mass base of about 200,000 farmers and fisherfolk, and remains as one of the largest and most reputable organizations of farmers in the country.