Budget cut hurts farmers training

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Agriculture Department yesterday warned that they may not be able to continue providing trainings to farmers in the mountain barangays because of their limited resources after the City Council slashed their budget this year.

City agriculturist Joelito Baclayon said that many agricultural programs will be affected after the council only approved P13 million out of the proposed P38 million. Among the programs that will be affected are the crop production extension services on high-value vegetable, rice, mango and other crop productions.

Baclayon said over 2,400 farmer beneficiaries stand to lose the necessary trainings because his department does not have enough budget to sustain the program.

“Di na ta maka-train og mga bag-ong farmers tungod sa slashed budget karong tuiga,” Baclayon said.

The agriculture department used to extend marketing assistance to farmer associations and the enhancement of farmers’ knowledge on new technologies relative to crop production by conducting season-long training on High Value Commercial Crops and Fruit Crops using protective culture (greenhouse) and plastic culture, establishing demonstration farms to improve farming cultural practices.

 Aside from the trainings, the agriculture department’s hiring of 10 agriculturists this year may have to be cancelled as well as the purchase of a pick-up service vehicle, office equipment, furniture and fixtures and other agricultural equipment.

Baclayon said they will be tapping other agencies like the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) to make their agricultural programs realize despite a small budget. — (FREEMAN)