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Farmers NGO pushes additional P3.7B for agri budget October 10, 2006
Rice Watch and Action Network (R1) urges Congress through Reps. Lorenzo Tañada III and Akbayan party list Rep. Risa Hontiveros-Baraquel to allocate additional P3.7B in the agriculture budget to cover support for organic and sustainable agriculture, investments in repair and building of communal and small irrigation systems, farm-to-market roads and post-harvest facilities.
"The proposed increase is quite modest considering that agriculture is still the main source of livelihood of the majority of the population. However, we also need to consider the capacity of the Department of Agriculture to manage and ensure transparency in spending as we do not need another Joc-joc Bolante case," said Jessica Reyes-Cantos, R1 Lead Convenor.
R1 submitted its recommendation to the House of Representatives as the body deliberates on the proposed agriculture budget for 2007. The Department of Agriculture is proposing a total of P19B agriculture spending under the agency's watch with only P3B as part of the regular budget and P16B under the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA).
"It is high time for the DA to recognize organic and sustainable approaches to farming as a viable mode to increase productivity. AFMA may bring in the necessary investments in the rural areas but it remains silent on the need to shift from highly intensive and environmentally damaging technologies to more sustainable agriculture production," said Cantos.
R1 proposed additional P200 million for farmers training on Systems of Rice Intensification (SRI), establishment of community seed bank and setting up of demonstration farms of sustainable agriculture in strategic farming provinces.
The SRI technology is already being used nationwide and was able to increase yields of up to 9 metric tons/hectare without favoring any particular type of seed. The system has high labor requirements and can potentially create additional on-farm employment.
R1 also warned the DA against betting all its aces on the hybrid rice technology. Cantos said community seed banking system can provide the farmers with access to their choice of good quality seeds suitable to the localities’ soil and climatic conditions.
"The DA can wisely spend its resources on research and development of agriculture technologies that offer additional rural employment and investment that lasts beyond one planting season unlike the hybrid rice varieties," said Cantos.
R1 also asked Congress for additional one billion pesos for the irrigation budget and an additional P15 million for water, soil and analysis and water impounding mechanisms.
"Investment in irrigation is necessary as it immediately doubles production but would need to prioritize the repair of existing irrigation systems to reduce the cost while providing the farmers with the service they sorely need," said Cantos.
Data from the National Irrigation Administration as of 2004 showed only P70,000 per hectare are needed for repair and rehabilitation while new national irrigation systems require as much as P300,000 per hectare.
"We welcome new irrigation systems if it includes the construction of shallow tube wells and small, communal irrigation services in rain-fed, upland areas not serviced by national irrigation systems," Cantos said
NIA reported in 2005 that only 45 percent of the total irrigable rice lands have irrigation services.
R1's budget proposal is among the different proposals submitted to progressive legislators by civil society organizations led by Social Watch towards to craft a national budget that is responsive to the Millenium Development Goals (MDGs) that the Philippine government is set to comply.
"This exercise of putting the money where it is most needed would be wasted if the legislators fail to institute special provisions in the Genera Appropriations Act that would ensure transparency and strict compliance of the funds allocation," said Cantos.
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