DA chief sees bright prospects for agri

MANILA, Philippines - The country is on its way to rice self-sufficiency and food security, according to Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala.

“We expect a good summer harvest,” Alcala said, adding that the country will reduce rice imports this year, until self-sufficiency is attained by end of 2103. 

“We are no longer the world’s biggest importer,” he proclaimed proudly during the opening of the DA 2012 internal budget hearing and planning workshop, attended by more than 100 top officials of the DA.

He said the country will be importing less than one million tons this year, in sharp contrast to the more than two million tons in 2010.

Alcala said the prospects are bright, as palay production for the first semester may reach more than 7.6 million tons, according to estimates of the DA’s Bureau of Agricultural Statistics. The projected production is 15 percent more than last year’s harvest of 6.6 million tons for the same six-month period.

The DA-BAS said the increase could be attributed to a 9.6-percent expansion in harvest area that will be added to the 1.82 million hectares planted in 2010. They are also expecting an increase in average palay harvest per hectare to 3.8 tons (roughly 76 cavans of 50 kilos each) from last year’s 3.6 tons.

Alcala is optimistic that the successful implementation of irrigation system repairs, establishment of more post harvest facilities, and construction of farm-to-market roads particularly in Mindanao will all contribute to propping up palay production to a target year-end level of 17.46 million tons.

He issued his initial marching orders to all DA officials, highlighting President Aquino’s agriculture agenda this year and in 2012, and the Agri-Pinoy strategic framework that will serve as guide when crafting and implementing DA programs and services from 2011 to 2016.

The DA 2012 internal budget hearing and planning workshop was attended by all undersecretaries and assistant secretaries, and respective directors and heads of 16 regional offices, eight bureaus, 26 attached agencies and corporations, a dozen foreign-assisted programs and projects, DA-OSEC services, and commodity banner programs.

“I urge everyone to strengthen Philippine agriculture via the Agri-Pinoy strategic framework, and prioritize major programs on food staples self-sufficiency, mariculture development, livestock expansion, genetic improvement, disease control, high-value crops development, and strategic trading posts/market linking,” the DA chief said.

“Sama-sama nating baguhin ang kabuhayan ng ating mga kababayan, at nang manumbalik ang kanilang  tiwala sa pamahalaan,” (Together, let’s improve the livelihood of our countrymen, so we can win back their trust), Alcala concluded.