By The Financial District
Sep 22, 20232 min
The government will continue to seek ways to enhance the quality of life for farmers and increase productivity levels in the agriculture sector, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reiterated recently.
The chief executive assured that the government will continue to explore ways to assist communities and ensure that no one is left behind in the country's pursuit of progress and development. I Photo: Alan Jay Jacalan, DA-AFID
In his message during the Ceremonial Distribution of Rice and Various Assistance in General Trias, Cavite, President Marcos stated that the Department of Agriculture (DA) is preparing plans to empower farmer groups in rice processing.
This initiative complements the efforts to combat illegal hoarding and the smuggling of agricultural products. President Marcos also serves as the concurrent Secretary of the DA.
"We will not stop improving the agricultural sector, enhancing our harvests, lowering the cost of production, and increasing our production levels," Marcos said.
"All of these need to be done, including assisting cooperatives and associations in processing, so they can process and sell rice, not just sell paddy, to increase their income," he added.
He also mentioned the new price range set for purchasing paddy from local farmers, which will help farmers earn more from their products.
According to President Marcos, the DA will also distribute bio-fertilizers to farmer cooperatives and associations as an alternative to the more expensive urea fertilizers.
"This is no longer the imported kind that becomes costly and follows oil prices. Urea prices fluctuate with oil prices, and we have no control over that," he said.
The chief executive assured that the government will continue to explore ways to assist communities and ensure that no one is left behind in the country's pursuit of progress and development.
"Rest assured that your government will do everything necessary so that you won't be left behind and won't suffer. The government will do everything it can," he said.
On Friday, President Marcos led the distribution of rice and various agricultural assistance to approximately 1,400 beneficiaries, including farmers and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries.
Earlier, the President distributed the smuggled rice seized by the Bureau of Customs in Zamboanga City and Zamboanga Sibugay. The 25-kg rice sacks were part of the 42,180 sacks confiscated by the Bureau of Customs-Port of Zamboanga, which were subsequently donated to the DSWD.