President Ferdinand BBM Marcos Jr. said he is taking on the helm of the Department of Agriculture for the time being so he can properly address the country’s food security that is threatened by the global crisis in Russia-Eukraine war, gas fuel erratic prices and the Covid-19 pandemic.
President Ferdinand Marcos
In keeping with his promise to make the Philippines attain a higher level of food security, President Ferdinand BBM Marcos is eyeing a higher output for palay (unmilled rice) for 2023, or a new record of 20.24 million metric tons (MT) through a higher budget for the existing Rice Program to complement the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund implementation.
President Marcos concurrent DA Secretary said, to increase the nation’s palay production, he had given his instructions to fast track the distribution of high quality seeds, ensure that the fertilizer discount vouchers are incorruptible, and bio fertilizers , farm mechanized machinery and other equipments are to be issued to farmers.
Marcos strictly ordered to build more irrigation canals, caused immediate repair to damage dams and open more canal to ensure to achieve the goal set in 2023.
Further more, he added the urgency of addressing the nation’s food security by challenging our youths to reconsider their choice of vocation to rally behind the crisis our nation is facing. He further challenge the private business investors to partner with the government in forging an agreement with them by supplying the farmers on latest mechanized equipment .
In looking into the nation’s chicken, egg and other poultry products, the market suffered acute shortage brought by Russia-Eukraine War, oil and pandemic contributed to the rapid decline in their production.
The various poultry raisers in the country is facing difficulty in the sudden increase demand on chicken is a big shift due to high cost on feeds from hogs decrease their production.
