ANGARA CITES 3 KEYS TO A LONG-TERM SUSTAINABILITY FOR AGRI

Senator Edgardo J. Angara today sees three major factors in achieving long-term viability and productivity of Philippine agriculture, enumerating among others: research and development, enactment of a comprehensive land use plan; and a consistent and stable agriculture policy.

"We have at present the technologies and techniques for increasing farm outputs. What's needed is to disseminate more widely these available technologies, through a revitalized agriculture extension work and institutions such as Phil Rice and the network of agricultural colleges and universities. For this, we have to fund a human resource development program and the setting up of laboratories and experimental stations all over the country," said Angara, who also chairs Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food.

He added, "Revolutions in biotechnology and information technology are rapidly multiplying agriculture yields. Innovations in water management, management and systems technologies in production and marketing, sustainable agricultural practices that promote watersheds and biodiversity are all available and can be taught and learned. Post harvest processing, handling and transport is an imperative. We should allocate enough resources to R&D to attain the one percent of GVA target that the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommend for developing countries."

Today, the Philippines spends only 0.l percent of gross value added (GVA) for research and development (R&D). China, as an example, is also instructive. In 2003, it increased its spending for R&D to 0.8 percent of GVA with dramatic results in farm productivity.

If a comprehensive Land Use Plan will finally be enacted, Senator Angara has also projected that all lands in our country will be utilized to serve the needs of the nation with regard to food security.

Apart from his earlier suggestion to revamp the entire National Food Authority, Senator Angara also emphasized the need to establish a 'clear, consistent and stable agriculture and food policy.'

"Our burgeoning population, expected to grow to 100 million in three years, will become a huge challenge to agriculture and food security. AFMA has been lauded by other countries as one of the best agricultural frameworks in the world, and has already been copied in some nations. But the AFMA as a master plan for agricultural modernization has been applied unevenly and erratically through the years. It is high time that we implement the AFMA with consistency and commitment," he said.

In the 2008 World Bank report, it said that agriculture continues to be a fundamental instrument for sustainable development and poverty reduction.