Agriculture Secretary Addresses Food Security

Agriculture Secretary William Dar, a horticulturist, focused on a self-sufficient food security provided the needed resources are available. Speaking before Asia’s First Rotary Club, he noted that food security is gradually becoming the overarching goal of agriculture which can be achieved by complementing a robust local palay production with importation to fill the gap.

Local production, according to him, is vastly affected by irrigation. Hence, the country’s “BUILD BUILD BUILD” program in infrastructure should include building irrigation facilities. Likewise, to provide assistance to farmers which they need to improve their harvest and eventually lower the production cost of palay in the country, he is in favor of the Rice Tariffication Law and that President Duterte has the authority to increase the rice importation tariff so as not to compromise the production of local farmers. With proper implementation of the P10-B Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund, this will go a long, long way in making the rice farmer very competitive.