By Genalyn Kabiling
The government will continue to provide a comprehensive assistance package, including post-harvest facilities, to farmers to help improve their agricultural productivity, a Palace official said Tuesday.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (Photo from Karlo Nograles / Facebook page / File Photo / MANILA BULLETIN)
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said the government was "working hard to uplift the agriculture sector," particularly rice farmlands affected by recent natural calamities.
"We will improve the lives of farmers by providing a comprehensive range of assistance covering pre-planting up to post-harvest,” he said during the inauguration of the newly renovated Malatgao River Irrigation System and Post-Harvest Facilities in Palawan.
Nograles said the government aims to "double" the amount of assistance to boost farm productivity in agricultural areas like Palawan. "We will achieve the twin goals of food security and improvement of farmer's livelihoods through these initiatives. The government is on course to implement similar programs in other areas," he said.
Nograles has welcomed the completion of the P200-million Malatgao River irrigation project, saying it would benefit the farming towns of Aborlan and Narra.
The project, implemented by the National Irrigation Administration, is funded through a loan from Japan International Cooperation Agency.
"This important project aims to increase palay yield in the area, which is considered the 'rice granary' of Palawan,” Nograles said.
"We intend to strengthen the irrigation operation and management systems through improved facilities and focused assistance to the local Irrigators Association. Our ultimate aim is to produce a steady supply of rice and improve the livelihood of our farmers," he added.
He said the Japan aid was used for the rehabilitation of the diversion dam, main canal, laterals, drainage canal structures, drainage structures, on-farm structures as well as the construction of service roads and offices of the Irrigators Association.
Farmlands and support facilities in Palawan were among those damaged when super typhoon Yolanda hit parts of the country in 2013.
"We haven't forgotten the need to rehabilitate, years after Yolanda, that's why we continue to pour funds to improve irrigation, build facilities and establish sustainable livelihood programs to help affected citizens," Nograles said.
The launch of the new irrigation project comes as the government moves to improve the plight of farmers affected by the implementation of the rice tariffication law.
Farmers have suffered low domestic palay prices amid the entry of cheap rice imports into the country.
President Duterte initially wanted to temporarily halt rice importation to help farmers increase their incomes but changed his mind following a meeting with economic managers.
He said it would be a folly to stop rice importation since there was no guarantee local production could meet domestic demand.
Instead, the government would implement more stringent standards on rice importation and extend a subsidy package to farmers.