Upbeat agri sector to help boost Phl economic growth

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City maintains a positive outlook on the agriculture sector  by 2014 given the enhanced support of the government and private companies in the development of the industry, thus possibly creating a ripple effect on the local and national economic growth.

This was raised by Cebu City agriculturist Joselito Baclayon during an interview with The FREEMAN. He expressed confidence that the national Gross Domestic Product would still increase despite the natural calamities that struck the country in the latter part of 2013.

He said that the agriculture sector shall account a significant contribution to the economic development taking into account the active involvement of the private sector coupled with the institutionalization of sustainable programs for farmers spearheaded by the local and national government.

The access to market and appropriate farming technology, he added, also contributes to the competitiveness of industry players towards the efficient production of market-driven agricultural products among farmer associations.

He also said that the sufficient production area and organized clusters of farmers make the agriculture sector viable in the city.

This year, the city government has organized alternative marketing and entrepreneurship programs to provide better marketing opportunities among farmer clusters to produce specific crops, capture markets and earn higher revenues.

These programs were in collaboration with private companies such as Jollibee Group Foundation, National Livelihood Development Corporation, Lamac Multipurpose  Cooperative, and Catholic Relief  Services.

Such developments, in return, could encourage more players and other partners to support the growth and development in agriculture sector.

"Given that our farmers have been organized and technology is in place, the sector expects to increase its production capacity more specifically in high valued vegetables and cut flowers.  The participation of private companies in marketing is also anticipated to gain momentum, thus serving a good opportunity for our farming sector," Baclayon stated.

He also noted that there are still vast of land properties which are suited for production are not being utilized intensively.

"Agriculture or food production per se does not only concern our farmers but somehow is considered to be a business for every Filipino.  We can even produce food plants in containers as part of our edible landscape," he continued.

He then recommended the institutionalization of marketing, application of post-harvest handling practices and installation of processing facilities to further improve the agricultural industry in the coming years.

Earlier, Baclayon said that the natural calamities that recently hit the region did not greatly affect the growth and supply of leading crops produced by farmers in Cebu City.

He cited that the local market could instead capitalize on the produce of the farming sector in city to cope with the demand of agricultural products while agricultural properties particularly in the northern part of the province were devastated by super typhoon Yolanda.

Cebu City accounts a contribution of 25 percent in terms of the gross production in the Cebu main markets. About five percent of which is composed of the sweet corn produce. These also include the harvest in vegetables, flowers and fruits from the central mountain barangays in Cebu City such as Tabao, Adlaon, Sirao, Sibugay, and Taptap. — /JOB