Villar: Expand economic opportunities for small farmers, fisherfolk

MANILA, Philippines — Economic opportunities should be expanded for those engaged in agriculture like small farmers and fisherfolk, as they are the ones providing Filipinos with food, according to Sen. Cynthia Villar.

Villar, who chairs the Senate committee on agriculture and food, has acknowledged the Philippine Society of Agricultural Engineers in their initiatives to reach their goals to achieve a food-secure Philippines.

“Your help and expertise will go a long way in moving our agriculture sector forward,” the senator said.

“We have to expand economic opportunities for those who are engaged in agriculture such as our small farmers and fisherfolk as they are the ones providing us with food on our tables,” she added.

Villar emphasized that the demand for agricultural production is vital for food security, citing the need for Filipinos to continue helping the country’s agricultural production in order for it to flourish.

The senator was guest speaker at the opening of the 73rd Philippine Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers’ Annual National Convention, the 35th Philippine Agricultural Engineering Week Celebration and the 19th International Agricultural Engineering Conference in Legazpi City, which was held from April 22 to 27.

She noted that the country’s agriculture sector is challenged, and that the agricultural and biosystems engineers’ new approach and determination can help solve perennial problems confronting the sector.

She said that among the problems are wasted agricultural products for their being perishable, limited connection like roads, bridges and logistics between the production areas and markets, and lack of post-harvest technology, which are mostly imported.

Villar also mentioned the country’s vulnerability to extreme weather events such as drought and typhoons.