DA sets 2.5% growth target for agri sector

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) will strive to attain a 2.5-percent growth in the agricultural sector this year in spite of the P11-billion crop damage caused by drought in the first half of this year, according to Agriculture Secretary Bernie Fondevilla. This, he said, is divided into P6 billion for rice and P5 billion for corn

The DA figure is well below that of the National Disaster Coordinating Committee (NDCC) which estimated the damage to have reached P15 billion.

Agriculture Undersecretary Joel Rudinas explained that the discrepancy is due to the difference in prices used to estimate the damage.

The NDCC relies on the price quoted by the National Food Authority, while the DA’s Bureau of Agricultural Statistics uses actual farm-gate prices.

Fondevilla said a 2.5-percent growth for the agriculture sector will be difficult to attain since there are still a lot of factors that could affect the second half growth in light of the La Niña phenomenon which could spawn another “Ondoy” deluge.

 “We have to challenge ourselves to meet that target,” Fondevilla said.

Fondevilla was optimistic of a recovery for the rice sector in the second half as the DA is already preparing La Nina mitigation measures.

For the rice program alone, Fondevilla said, the DA is allocating P3 billion for irrigation, farm to market roads and post-harvest facilities.