Farm group urges priority support for local producers

After storm damage

MANILA, Philippines — The Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG) has called on the government to prioritize support to local producers affected by the recent storms that battered the country.

SINAG executive director Jayson Cainglet said local agricultural production and the recovery of Filipino farmers must be placed at the center of the government’s response to the continuing impact of monsoon-induced storms.

“When our farmers suffer production losses, the appropriate policy response should first be to restore their capacity to produce — not replace their production with imports,” he added.

Cainglet said that the government must adopt a “local production first” policy during times of farm supply disruptions.

“Imports should not be the first response to temporary shortages resulting from weather disturbances. Rather, the government must support efforts for farmers to replant and recover,” he added.

He said there must be immediate distribution of seeds, fingerlings, fertilizers and other vital farm inputs needed for the recovery of production.

He cautioned against addressing short-term supply gaps with policies that could exacerbate production deficits.

“The current weather-related disruption should be treated as an opportunity to strengthen, not weaken Philippine agriculture,” he said.

Cainglet noted that farmgate prices continue to fall even as retail prices climb, urging the state to act swiftly to curb excessive margins, market concentration, hoarding, speculative trading and other practices driving the disconnect.

“It is unacceptable for farmers to absorb the losses while consumers bear the burden of higher retail prices,” he added.

Cainglet also noted that government agencies must also prioritize procurement from local producers to provide immediate assistance to affected marginal producers, backyard raisers and small fish farmers.

The Department of Agriculture reported that typhoons Luis, Maymay and Enteng, intensified by the southwest monsoon, caused P1.79 billion in farm damage, wiping out 44,745 metric tons of produce.

The recent storms have affected 51,229 farmers across 41,647 hectares of agricultural land in eight regions.