NEDA Sec. Paderanga stresses need to boost up
market for agri-produce during 1st Pre-SONA Forum
by Fayette C. Riñen
CEBU CITY, July 6 (PIA) - Economic Development and Planning Secretary Cayetano Paderanga Jr. stressed the need to boost up the market first for harvested produce before even thinking about going into high-tech farming to increase production.
Paderanga was one of the main panelists of the 1st Pre-SONA (State-of-the-Nation Address) Economic Cluster Forum held at Malacañang this morning where Cebu was one of the identified live remote points.
Robert Go, past president of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) representing the business sector and one of the reactors asked what the government can do to increase productivity in the light that there are no incentives for hi-tech farming, Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program and political will.
“Before we start talking about hi-tech farming to increase our production, we first need to check whether we have the adequate market,” Paderanga said and added that we also need to focus on the market aspect and not just on production or else the harvests will just turn to waste due to insufficient market.
Go raised his concern on the pitiful state of the country’s agriculture which has not contributed much to our economic growth despite the abundant natural resources prided by the Philippinesthat continue to be under-utilized.
“Our country has the lowest in the harvest per hectare and we lag behind our neighbors on productivity,” Go told the country’s economic managers composed of Paderanga, Trade Sec. Gregory Domingo and Finance Sec. Cesar Purisima.
Paderanga said that it is very important to have the infrastructure such as the farm-to-market roads that will pave the way for farmers to directly bring their harvest to the market.
“What I see is a fragmented economy and high costs of farm products that vary from region to region,” Paderanga disclosed.
“What we need is an integrated market in order to reduce the costs” of farm harvests, the NEDA Chief said.
But in order to do this, Paderanga said assistance to small and medium farmers is needed as he highlighted the importance of an alternative delivery channel of finance to help cooperatives.
“Credit finance for farmer cooperatives should be provided in the local level,” Paderanga said.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda who was present during the forum said that under the P-Noy Administration, “expansion of markets is being given priority and that the President is focused on industry regions rather than the super regions espoused by the previous administration.”
Purisima on the other hand, said sufficient funding for numerous projects and programs that benefit the people is possible if the people only pay their taxes accurately because the money that goes to the government’s coffer will ultimately go back to the people through delivery of social services and infrastructure projects. (PIA 7-Cebu)