August 11, 2023

 

Philippines' farmers seek increased funding to safeguard livestock industries

 

As the Philippines' Congress gears up to scrutinise the country's proposed 2024 budget allocations for agriculture, voices from the poultry and livestock sectors are echoing a call for heightened financial support to shield their industries from the escalating impact of extreme weather events, BusinessWorld reported.

 

Agriculture has been allotted PHP 181.4 billion (~US$3.2 billion; PHP 10 = US$0.18) in the 2024 national budget proposal, marking a 4.5% increase from the previous year's budget. But industry stakeholders are emphasising the need for a more diversified approach, shifting away from a disproportionate focus on rice-centric funding.

 

Elias Jose M Inciong, president of the United Broiler Raisers Association (UBRA), underscored the importance of channelling resources toward common service facilities for poultry and livestock. He also advocated for investments in critical infrastructure, such as storage facilities for yellow corn, an essential element of animal feed.

 

Inciong said there is potential in exploring alternative carbohydrate sources beyond rice and delving into the utilisation of other grains and vegetables.

 

Echoing this sentiment, Gregorio A San Diego, Jr, chairman of UBRA, said that it is important to bolster support for often overlooked crops like corn, tapioca, and tomatoes, recognizsng their significance in achieving agricultural diversity and resilience.

 

The proposed budget allocations for key agricultural programmes in the Philippines indicate a PHP 30.87 billion allocation for the National Rice Programme, PHP 5.28 billion (~US$93 million) for corn, and PHP 1.94 billion (~US$34.5 million) for high-value crops under the 2024 National Expenditure Programme.

 

Additionally, the budget earmarks PHP 10 billion (~US$177 million) for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund, sourced from import tariffs as mandated by the Rice Tariffication Law. Considerable funding is allocated to enhance agricultural infrastructure, with PHP 17.27 billion (~US$307 million) dedicated to farm-to-market roads and PHP 31.18 billion (~US$554 million) for irrigation projects.

 

But industry leaders said that safeguarding agricultural land, especially irrigated land, remains a paramount concern. Recognising the growing prominence of extreme weather patterns, Jayson H Cainglet, the executive director for Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura, highlighted the pressing need for an allocation targeting crop and livestock insurance, indemnity, and emergency funds. This financial buffer would help counterbalance the escalating farm losses triggered by the new normal of severe weather conditions.

 

Raul Q. Montemayor, national manager of the Federation of Free Farmers, said that programme effectiveness should take precedence over budget utilisation. Montemayor stressed the importance of assessing the impact and outcomes of agricultural programmes in achieving their targets rather than relying solely on budget disbursement rates as the criterion for funding decisions.

 

-      BusinessWorld