RP seeks $874m aid for agriculture<\/p>\n
MANILA (Reuter): The Philippines yesterday unveiled a
\nblueprint to boost productivity in agriculture in the next five
\nyears as it sought aid from international financial institutions.<\/p>\n
The project, worth a staggering US$874 million, aims to make
\nthe country self-sufficient in feeding its growing population,
\nsaid Agriculture Minister Salvador Escudero in a presentation to
\nprospective donor countries and institutions.<\/p>\n
\"Agriculture provides a potent and efficient base for the
\nnation's industrialization thrusts,\" Escudero said, adding that
\nthe Philippines had to address its falling output of major crops.<\/p>\n
Declining output has forced the Philippines to import large
\nquantities of rice, corn and sugar in the past two years.<\/p>\n
\"As the country gears up to face the challenges of a more
\ndynamic world trade regime, the need to achieve greater
\nproductivity and competitiveness in the sector becomes even more
\nimperative,\" said National Economic and Development Authority
\ndirector Cielito Habito.<\/p>\n
The agricultural productivity action plan addresses nine areas
\nof concern in the country's declining agricultural productivity,
\nfrom lack of irrigation and post harvest facilities to research
\nand development.<\/p>\n
Habito said the Philippines has to strengthen its agricultural
\nsector because it has lagged behind the growth posted by other
\nsectors.<\/p>\n
\"The agriculture sector, on which 51 percent of Filipinos rely
\nfor livelihood, has grown a mere 0.9 percent in 1995 -- a pale
\ncomparison to the 7.3 percent growth of the industry sector,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The Philippines posted 5.7 percent growth in its gross
\nnational product in 1995.<\/p>\n
Escudero said the agriculture sector has remained at a virtual
\nstandstill in the past two years due to inadequacies in
\ninfrastructure and support services, and what he called
\n\"erroneous\" government policies.<\/p>\n
\"There is the irrational and unpropitious practice of devoting
\nlarge tracts of farmland to crops with very low earnings per
\nhectare in direct contrast to developing small farmlands with
\nhigher earnings per hectare,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Participants at the forum said they welcomed the government's
\nefforts to boost its productivity in the sector.<\/p>\n
\"A key constraint inhibiting agricultural growth in the past
\nwas the lack of an appropriate policy environment,\" said Asian
\nDevelopment Bank manager for agriculture and rural development
\n(East) Robustiano Espiritu.<\/p>\n
Among the institutions that attended the forum were the World
\nBank, Asian Development Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization,
\nEuropean Union, United Nations Development Program, Japan
\nInternational Cooperation Agency and the United States Agency for
\nInternational Development.<\/p>\n
Officials from donor agencies, who received the detailed
\nproposals for which aid was sought, said they supported the
\ngovernment's aims. They did not say when the proposals would be
\ntaken up for consideration.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/rp-seeks-874m-aid-for-agriculture-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}