Agricultural modernization the responsibility of both government, private sector

MANILA, Philippines - Agricultural modernization is a rigorous process that is the responsibility not only of the Department of Agriculture (DA) or the government, but also of the private sector, Henry Lim, chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of SL Agritech Corp., said.

“While newly appointed Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala has the expertise for the job, he still needs all our support and cooperation if he is to bring about positive changes in the agriculture industry which is the sole engine of our economic growth and development,” Lim said.

He said the DA, under the stewardship of Alcala, “will be playing a vital role in the promotion of agriculture benefiting millions of our farmers, fisherfolk and other rural entrepreneurs.”

In his first meeting over the weekend with agriculture reporters, Alcala said he expects to totally forego rice importations in three years. The Philippines spends over P60 billion every year in rice importations. He said the policy of the previous administration of importing rice has discouraged local farmers from increasing their production.

The new DA chief said he intends to intensify rice production and provide farmers all the necessary support such as post-harvest facilities to make sure that “the country achieves its goal of rice self-sufficiency in three years.”

Jesus Tanchanco, former food minister and administrator of the National Food Authority (NFA), said the country’s hope of eliminatimg huge rice imports and eventual rice sufficiency anchors on the development of post-harvest research and latest farming technologies.

“The government should allocate more money for rice production which could be spent to build rice-saving post-harvest facilities,” he said.