Legarda sets 2009 COCAFM monitoring agenda

Sen. Loren Legarda, who chairs the Congressional Oversight Committee for Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization has set the priority actions of the committee for 2009 to strengthen the agriculture and fisheries sector and make it a force in alleviating poverty and spurring economic growth in the countrywide.

In a meeting with top officials of the Department of Agriculture (DA), Legarda said the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) could be used by concerned agencies in a lot of creative ways, partnerships, and as sources of innovative strategies using existing resources and mandates.

Legarda said the monitoring of AFMA implementation will focus on the following priority and strategic areas:

1) Agrarian Reform — Pushing for the passage of the bill extending the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law with amendments based on the recommendations of the three independent groups commissioned by COCOAFM to conduct studies and assess the CARP implementation.

2) Agricultural extension — Ensuring that the farmers and fisherfolks get timely and comprehensive assistance from the Municipal Agricultural Officers (MAOs). Comprehensive assistance consists of technology dissemination, accessing credit in rural banks, ACEF and other sources like available Grameen organizations in the municipality, and creative marketing assistance like processing of farm product instead of just selling raw food and non-food products.

3) Food Safety — Passage of a comprehensive bill on food safety that will ensure the highest quality of agriculture and fishery products for both domestic and international uses and rationalize the functions of concerned agencies such as the Bureau of Agriculture and Fishery Product Standards (BAFPS) and other regulatory agencies in the DA. The passage of Halal bill and other marketing concerns should be prioritized to recognize the Muslim concept of food safety as well as take advantage of investments and export opportunities in Islamic countries.

4) Food Sufficiency — Increasing farmers and fishers’ income from both farm and non-farm production will enable them to buy food — both rice and ‘ulam’ — for their families, however, as rice is the Filipinos’ staple food, the DA should ensure provision for irrigation, post-harvest facilities and other support services are in place. PhilRice’s Palayamanan or Bahay Kubo concept should be boosted.