Cebu businesses urged to support agri sector

CEBU, Philippines — Economist Ronilo Balbieran calls on the Cebu business sector to “help the farming community in the province” instead of worrying about inflationary threats and external pressures.

Balbieran, who is also the vice president for Research, Education and Institutional (REID) Foundation, said that putting money or pouring investment into agriculture is the way for the economy to achieve faster recovery, and fight external pressures.

“While you are too busy complaining about [high] inflation, our neighbors [countries] are too busy hiring jobs,” he told the Cebuano business community during an investment forum organized by the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI).

Balbieran believes that the key to accelerating growth is to strengthen the country’s agriculture sector. Cebu, he said is no exception, since the province also has vast agricultural farming communities that need support from both government and the private sector.

 One way the business sector could help in providing farming communities with support investments in digital and logistics infrastructure.

Because of the lack of local investments in logistics, and digital infrastructure provided direct to farmers, Balbieran said “now we are dealing with the highest logistics cost in agriculture,” which in turn put more pressure on the already high inflation.

 He mentioned that if the agriculture sector will be given serious attention, the Philippines, with its high consumption rate due fast-growing population, could grow even faster than its neighboring countries.

Because of the neglect in putting attention to investing more in agriculture, and its supporting industries, the food-providing sector agriculture is growing at a low single-digit rate.

“Everything has already grown way faster than pre-pandemic but agriculture remains stuck,” he added.

Meanwhile, Cebuano farmer Eliseo Cantano and his family, who tends a farm in Sitio Cobcawa in the mountain barangay of Adlaon, Cebu City, said that aside from the unpredictable weather, the upland farming community in Cebu City is facing challenges due to water scarcity.

Cantano’s family cultivates sweet corn, cauliflower, tomatoes, kangkong, and pechay, but with the current water shortage, they had to endure several instances where crops had to be sacrificed so their household could have enough water to use.

Speaking on behalf of other farmers in the mountain barangays in Cebu City, Cantano said water is the most important resource.

“It’s essential not just to day-to-day household activities, but also to our livelihood. But during a drought, unfortunately, we have to sacrifice our crops to prioritize the needs of our families.”

Cantano added that one of the most important factors that may help boost farming productivity is enough to supply water in the mountain barangays, especially with the looming El Niño season.

DA 7 regional director Joel Elumba said in an earlier pronouncement that more farmers’ market activities will be organized in the region to provide the agriculture sector a platform to market their farm products and sell them at a cheaper price.

The DA-7 also reported helping corn farmers in Cebu under the government’s fertilizer support program funded through the fertilizer discount voucher scheme.

In this program, each qualified and listed beneficiary will receive a voucher with an equivalent amount of P2,000, which can be claimed from an accredited fertilizer merchant.