By Louise Maureen Simeon (The Philippine Star), March 16, 2017
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Agriculture (DA) has once again pushed back its rice self-sufficiency goal by another year to 2020 due to lack of available budget and as it buys more time to implement strategies to improve the sector.
“We have to make adjustments due to non-availability of funds. I’m still struggling,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol told reporters in a chance interview.
While he moved his target, Pinol is banking on strategies to achieve the goal including promotion of hybrid seeds, access to credit and loans, access to right marketing, and provision of post-harvest facilities.
To provide easy access to credit and financial assistance, the DA has proposed to Congress the enactment of a Quick Credit Facility (QCF) that will help farmers and fisherfolks.
The Agricultural Credit and Policy Council also launched the Survival and Recovery (SURE) Assistance Program for calamity-stricken farmers.
The DA will organize rice farmers into highly-functioning organizations and assist them in setting-up farmer-owned rice outlets in key areas to give producers access to market.
Through this strategy, the DA aims to eliminate unnecessary layers in the market system.
The DA will likewise prioritize the distribution of efficient post-harvest facilities.
It is seeking a P20-billion budget next year for the distribution of solar irrigation system, which forms part of the rice expansion program for 2017.
March –
IT’S WOMEN’S MONTH!
“Respect and support women
every day of the year/s!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the recommendations of the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry
against serious violations of protocols of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association.
Accept the National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands
#Report Corruption #SearchPosts #TakePicturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
Women’s Role in History Month
Weekly Observances:
Week 1: Environmental Week;
Women’s Week
Week 3: Philippine Industry and “
Made-in-the-Philippines Products Week
Last Week: Protection and Gender-Fair Treatment
of the Girl Child Week
Daily Observances:
March 8: Women’s Rights and
International Peace Day;
National Women’s Day
March 4: Employee Appreciation Day
March 15: World Consumer Rights Day
March 18: Global Recycling Day
March 21: International Day for the Elimination
of Racial Discrimination
March 23: International Day for the Right to the Truth
Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations
and for the Dignity of Victims
March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the
Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade
March 27: Earth Hour
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