Loren wants farmers, fisherfolks as active players in RP's agri market

BAYBAY, Leyte (August 11) - Senator Loren Legarda today pushed the transformation of farmers from mere passive beneficiaries of private and public agricultural extension programs into active players in the agricultural markets.

"Development in agriculture which translates to national economic development constitutes only an aspect of development that I want to see happen in our communities," said Loren in her keynote speech during the anniversary convocation of the Visayas State University (VSU).

Loren stressed that farmers, given the right support by government, can transform themselves into "clients, sponsors and stakeholders who are fully capable of assessing and managing their relationships with buyers, service providers and other players in the agricultural markets."

The chair of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, Loren cited the founders of VSU for making more relevant the education of the youth by focusing on engineering, agri-industries, fisheries, forestry and management of natural resources.

"You have prepared an array of activities that are at the core of my advocacies as a senator and as a public servant, including the Farmers and Fisherfolks' Day, the Flower and Garden Show and the Farmers' Forum," she said.

Loren stressed that agriculture is a cornerstone of the national economy and food security, as well as a major source of employment and livelihood for Filipinos.

"But the recent years have brought disturbing facts about this sector. Problems identified in the 1997 Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act or AFMA continues to exist. The problems of our farmers and fishermen in irrigation, research and development, extension, markets and credit persist," she pointed out.

She added that just last year, the country had experienced a crisis in the supply of rice, with the Philippines up to present being the world's top importer of the grain.

"On the other hand, the fisheries sector remains a relatively small sector. Considering the potential of our more than 36,000 kilometers of coastline and marine resources, the sector's performance remains below par compared to countries like China and Vietnam."

For this reason, Loren said that she has been tirelessly pushing pieces of proposed legislation, including Senate Bill 3100, to resolve the many problems of farmers and fisherfolks.