RESEARCH and development (R&D) in the agriculture sector must be prioritized in order to fast-track mechanization, Senator Cynthia Villar said.
Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food chair Villar underscored the importance of strengthening mechanization through research in order to increase productivity among Filipino farmers.
Villar said the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) has acknowledged the need to invest in R&D to fast-track the growth and development of the agriculture sector.
The senator added mechanization is crucial in gearing Filipino farmers to be competitive in the agriculture sector especially in the Asean Economic Community (AEC).
Villar cited the low production cost of rice in Vietnam with only P6 per kilograms (kg) compared to the Philippines' P12 production cost per kg.
With the passage of the Rice Tarrification Act, which is yet to be signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, a huge budget is allocated for mechanization.
"Under the bill, the excess rice tariff revenues and the P10 billion fixed appropriation for the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund shall be used for providing direct financial assistance to rice farmers. The bill is very specific as to where the funds will be spent, in securing that the intended beneficiaries of the program can receive the funding," Villar said Thursday, November 29, during her speech at the 1st Manufacturers' Forum by Mindanao Agricultural Machinery Industry Association at Apo View Hotel, Davao City.
The P10-billion rice fund will be allocated to the following: half of the amount will be for providing rice farm machineries under the Philippine Center for Post-Harvest Development and Modernization (PhilMech); 30 percent of the budget will be given to Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) to be used for the development, propagation and promotion of inbred rice seeds to rice farmers; 10 percent for credit facilities with minimal interest rates; and another 10 percent to fund extension services by PhilMech, Agricultural Training Institute, and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
