MANILA – Investing in agricultural modernization and irrigation development is crucial for enhancing the country’s food security in the face of continuous population growth.
In a recent news release, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian emphasized the importance of addressing the steady rise in the nation’s population by prioritizing increased productivity through modernizing the agricultural sector.
Gatchalian stressed that without a comprehensive modernization program, attaining food security, particularly regarding rice, would remain challenging for the government.
Gatchalian pointed out that there has to be a whole-of-government approach, with local government units playing a major role to effectively drive modernization, particularly in areas where financial support and cooperation are wanting.
“In the case of rice, which is the Philippines’ main staple food, the country needs to produce at least 98 percent of its rice requirement,” Gatchalian said.
“On the other hand, our population has increasingly swelled in comparison to rice production. As our population grows, so does our need for rice, and we should address that. However, currently, we can’t catch up because our population is growing faster than our rice production,” he added.
The country’s population was estimated to have reached 112 million in 2023, based on the projected population growth rate using the 2020 census result, according to the Commission on Population and Development.
“Hindi natin matatakasan ang pangangailangan na gawing moderno ang pangkalahatang sektor ng agrikultura upang matugunan ang suplay ng pagkain kasunod ng lumolobo nating populasyon. Dahil dito, mapapaunlad din natin ang kabuhayan ng ating mga magsasaka (We cannot avoid the need to modernize the general agricultural sector to meet the food supply following our growing population. Because of this, we will also be able to develop the livelihood of our farmers),” he said.
The Department of Agriculture previously said its 2024 budget includes PHP30.869 billion for the National Rice Program, PHP6.09 billion for the National Fisheries Program and PHP5.28 billion for the National Corn Program.
It has also set aside PHP4.35 billion for the National Livestock Program and PHP1.94 billion for the National High Value Crops Development Program. (PR)
