The New Thinking For Philippine Agriculture
The New Thinking For Philippine Agriculture
The New Thinking For Philippine Agriculture
Philippine Agriculture
by Dr. William D. Dar
The DA Secretary
Acting Secretary
Department of Agriculture, July 1998 - May 1999
Executive Director
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India,
2000 - 2014
“A food-secure Philippines
with prosperous farmers
and fisherfolk.”
The DA’s Mission
More active leadership into the agencies involved with the agriculture sector.
Establish links between large agri-industrial firms and conglomerates and farmers’
associations/cooperatives with the support of state colleges and universities; other joint venture
agreements can be pursued.
Digitization of farming and agribusiness activities like data analytics, artificial intelligence, geo-
mapping, computerization, use of drones and the internet.
Deal
or transact with organized farmers for collective action and link more
farmers to the agri-industrial sector.
More pro-poor laws are needed, like the Sagip Saka Act or RA 11321.
Ensure the proper and efficient utilization of the Rice Tariffication Law, particularly
the management of the ₱10-B Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF)
including that of the formulation of the Rice Industry Roadmap.
1
Craft and implement a “Pantawid Magsasaka Program” that will provide continuous
assistance to adversely affected rice farmers due to the rice tariffication regime.
3
Priority Concerns for the First 100 Days
Enhance skills of small farmers’ and fisherfolk’s cooperatives, IAs, and ARBAs on
entrepreneurship and financial management. DA should forge MOA with major
agribusiness companies to provide business managers.
4
6
Priority Concerns for the First 100 Days
Introduce “New Thinking” as the revised DA vision and mission; strive to attain a
“food-secure” Philippines with prosperous farmers and fisherfolk; identify and
promote “countryside heroes”; establish and strengthen farmers’ and fisherfolks’
registry as basis for granting social benefits.
7
9
Priority Concerns for the First 100 Days
10
12
Priority Concerns for the First 100 Days
Conduct “Food Summit” with key stakeholders: farmers, fisherfolk, GOs, NGOs, LGUs,
private sector, SUCs and others.
13
15
Secretary Dar’s Marching Orders
(Excerpts during the first Management Committee Meeting last August 23, 2019)