The Department of Agriculture (DA) believes that by adopting some changes in the traditional system of the farming sector, the Philippines can achieve food security.

DA Undersecretary for Policy, Planning, and Regulations Asis Perez said the country can achieve food security by boosting agricultural production and ensuring that food is reasonable and affordable for the people.

"Our farmers are doing well, but we need to support them more so they can get better," he emphasized during the Bagong Pilipinas Food Security Cluster Communications Workshop held at the Science City of Muñoz.

DA envisions a system that focuses on the entire agricultural value chain, from preparation before planting season, during planting time, post-harvesting, selling, marketing, and even processing.

"Let's try to help each other so that the entire agricultural value chain becomes strong and resilient," he added.

Perez mentioned that every sector in the value chain namely farmers, processors, traders, and wholesalers must earn. “There is nothing wrong when the whole chain is profitable because every single part of the chain has an invaluable contribution to reaching the country's food security,” he said.

Shifting strategies

There is a need to optimize idle land and water bodies to expand and improve available agri-fisheries areas for increased production. 

"We have a lot, we can plant 14 million hectares, but we haven't cultivated all of them. There are places where we haven't maximized farming," Perez noted. It is necessary to focus on and strengthen areas with low production to help boost agricultural yield.

As for irrigation, not only should new irrigation be built but also improve facilities that are performing poorly.

Agri-production system modernization

Based on the data presented by DA, the agricultural modernization rate in the Philippines is at 2.68 horsepower/hectare. This is low compared to neighboring Asian countries such as Japan having 18.87 horsepower/hectare, South Korea- 9.38, China-7.64, Vietnam-2.8, and India-2.7.

Perez said mechanization is vital in agriculture to help farmers with the increasing labor costs.

It is necessary to develop postharvest facilities so that farmers' produce can be stored, dried, or processed to improve its value and avoid spoilage and they will not be forced to sell products at low prices.

There is also a need to improve the logistics system for farming inputs such as fertilizer and others that will help make the products accessible and affordable.