Farm growth momentum to be sustained this year -- Angara

Agriculture Secretary Edgardo Angara announced yesterday that the significant growth momentum of the farm and fishery sector which began last year will likely be sustained in 2000 despite sharp budget cuts for his agency.

Speaking over breakfast at Hotel Intercon's 365 Forum in Makati City yesterday, the DA chief said gross value added (GVA) for the agriculture sector is expected to climb between three and four percent in 2000, an upward, albeit slower, improvement from the 6.49 percent growth rate recorded in 1999.

"The budget slash is a foregone conclusion due to the government's tight fiscal position. But even with the cuts, we see agriculture still advancing anywhere from three to four percent," he said.

The agriculture department's proposed P21-billion budget for 2000 is currently under tight review in Congress and there are strong indications the legislative body may trim the proposal by as much as from P3 to P4 billion.

To make the best of whatever funds are available and achieve the growth target amid a tight budgetary regime, the agriculture department will institutionalize "resource stretching and multiplication measures," Angara said.

These include implementing farm and fishing projects through a "counter-parting" and cost-sharing schemes with local government units, congressmen and project beneficiaries.

Other moves, he said, would be to carry out administrative and financial reforms to improve fund use and efficiency, tapping private and foreign investments, and deepening the project pipeline of official development assistance from foreign countries and overseas lending institutions.

Angara said that on presidential instructions, his agency's farm modernization program under Agrikulturang Makamasa would concentrate this year on the food security goal with particular focus on basic commodities like rice and fish.

He said the Rice Action Plan is targeting production of 12.5 million metric tons in 2000 compared to last year's 11.81 million ton output.

"If attained, given favorable weather forecasts for the year, the country may not have to import volumes of the commodity," he said.