2013 Agri budget to boost crop production

The Aquino Administration has proposed budget increases for agricultural programs in 2013 to boost crop production, meet domestic food requirements, and improve access to affordable staples by the end of 2013.

Budget and Management Secretary Florencio B. Abad confirmed that the Department of Agriculture will receive Php 73.6 billion under the proposed 2013 Empowerment Budget, 19.9 percent higher than the DA's total allocation for the current year.

"With heftier budgetary support, the DA is better-positioned to bridge the domestic supply with the growing demand for food, especially for rice, corn, fish, and coconut. The department's increased budget will also go towards fixing irrigation systems, providing access to credit and safety nets, and investing in farm-to-market roads and post-harvest technologies," Abad said in a press statement.

Of the Php 73.6-billion fund for the agriculture department, Php 15.3 billion has been earmarked for the department's banner agricultural programs, while Php 7.5 billion will be used to support the National Rice Program's targeted output of 20 million metric tons. Another Php 1.5 billion will also be given to the National Corn Program for the harvest of 8.4 million metric tons for 2013.

The Bureau of Fisheries will receive Php 4.6 billion under the 2013 proposed budget for the protection of fishery resources to yield a sustainable 5.4 million metric tons of fish, while the Philippine Coconut Authority will get a Php 1.7-billion allocation to help it reach its yield target of 3.13 million metric tons.

"We're planting the seeds of food self-sufficiency so that we won't have to rely on imports by the end of 2013. The budget increases for DA—together with the Administration's focus on our grain and crop programs—should help the agency meet the targets set for it next year, as well as enable the Administration to combat hunger and poverty in the long-term," Abad said.

Abad added that the 2013 Empowerment Budget will also account for infrastructure support for agriculture projects next year. For one, the National Irrigation Authority will receive P27.3 billion to generate 61,215 hectares of irrigation systems, restore 42,219 hectares of service areas, and rehabilitate 112,699 hectares of defunct irrigation channels for future restoration.

Meanwhile, a total of P7 billion will be channelled to 750 kilometers of farm-to-market roads that will link production communities with trading posts for faster trade and speedier investment returns to farmers and fisherfolk.

The Administration has likewise proposed an allocation of Php 4.25 billion for the National Food Authority for the procurement of 250,000 metric tons of palay, which will shield farmers from price fluctuations in the world market and serve as a contingent supply in the face of calamities. Crop insurance will also be set aside for 251,762 farmers via a Php 1.1-billion allocation to the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation.

Finally, Philippine farmers can expect increased access to agricultural credit through a Php 1-billion fund under the Agricultural Credit Policy Council, which oversees the Agro-Industry Modernization Credit and Financing Program and the Cooperative Banks Agri-Lending Program, among other safety net programs. - PIA — ARA