Agri sector hopes Noynoy will not cut GMA program

CEBU, Philippines - Farmers and fisherfolks in the region have expressed hope that the new administration, under the newly-elected President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, will continue the Ginintuang Masaganang Ani (GMA) program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

According to Department of Agriculture-RFU 7 Regional Executive Director Ricardo Oblena, farmers and fisherfolks have relayed this request during the two-day Agri-Trade Fair or “Tabo sa Banay,” held at the Mandaue Experiment Station (MES).

“We (DA 7) also hope that President Aquino will sustain the GMA program because there is really a need to continue to help the farmers in order that the country will become fully sufficient (in terms of food supply,)” he told The Freeman.

GMA or the Makapagpabagong Programa Tungo sa Masagana at Maunlad na Agrikultura at Pangisdaan) is the banner program of Republic Act 8435, otherwise known as the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA), which aims to strengthen the agriculture and fishery sectors through modernization, greater participation of small holders, food security and food self-sufficiency, private sector participation and people empowerment.

One of the programs under GMA is the rice subsidy program, which trains and certifies growers of certified and hybrid rice seeds, and provides subsidy to farmers who will purchase these seeds.

Oblena said certified and hybrid rice seeds are pure seeds that produce more and quality rice than the good seeds or the ordinary rice seeds. The government is giving a P600-subsidy for a 20-kilogram bag of certified seeds, which sells at P1, 200 and a P1, 000-subsidy for the same quantity of hybrid rice seeds which sells at P2, 500.

Meanwhile, the trade fair which ended yesterday, is held to open the one-month celebration for farmers and fisherfolks in recognition of their heroic roles in producing and providing food to the population.

“They are our unsung heroes,” Oblena said.

The event gathered around 60 farmers and fisherfolks in the province for trainings and seminars such as production of sweet corn production, cutflower and coconut; vermin composting and urban agriculture.