Angara backs 5-yr AFMA extension

DAVAO CITY — Sen. Edgardo Angara is pushing for  the extension of Republic Act 8435, otherwise known as the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA), for another five years in an effort to further improve the Philippines’ agriculture industry.

“We need to extend AFMA for at least another five years to bring the country’s agriculture sector to a more competitive level,” said Angara, who arrived here on Wednesday to address the opening of the two-day 6th Mindanao Food Congress held at a local hotel in this city. 

AFMA, which has annual funding of at least P17 billion a year on top of the Department of Agriculture budget,  is a codified mandate which establishes mechanisms and strategies for the more efficient use of available funds and emphasizes the primacy of private enterprise in agricultural modernization and growth.

Angara said the country needs the extra protection that AFMA provides for farmers and fishermen. AFMA is expected to expire next year after it was implemented in 2003.

“We need to reach a more competitive level in our agriculture because we will be swamped by Thailand and China,” the senator said, referring to the agriculture products the two countries produce at much lower prices.

Angara stressed that it is through AFMA that more budget is allocated  to agriculture. “We are getting from AFMA what should be for the agriculture sector,” he added.

The senator said that AFMA sets the framework by which the country shall achieve modernized agriculture and sustainable food security.

Angara said AFMA would mean a revitalized agriculture productivity for a more abundant food supply as well as the establishment of a working partnership between the government and the private sector toward the same purpose.

He emphasized that AFMA also provides the opportunity to modernize the country’s agriculture sector through production technology.

“It is important that we should employ production technology in  agriculture. Our land is not expanding and so to make up for the lack in land, we can use technology on how our farmers and even our fishermen can be more productive. We are not enlarging our areas, so we develop our productivity,” Angara added.

The senator likewise said local government units should also look into the development of mariculture industry in their areas.

“With mariculture, we are assured of fish production all year round with the fish cages that could be built in strategic areas in  the different localities,” Angara further said.

AFMA in itself provides for the government’s public investments, including the operation of communal irrigation, which could be in partnership with the private sector.

“AFMA provides so much opportunities for our farmers and fishermen, that is why we are seeking  that at least it could be extended for another five years to further enhance our agriculture sector,” Angara said.