THE Federation of Free Farmers has (FFF) rejected a budget cut for the agriculture and fisheries sector under the proposed National Expenditure Program for next year.
“In light of our growing population and rising food insecurity exacerbated by climate change, government funding for the sector should be increased, rather than reduced,” the group said in a statement on Friday.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has proposed a budget of P198.45 billion for 2027, P17.2 billion or eight percent lower than the P215.69-billion allocated this year.
The reduction was said to be due to the standardization of the farm-to-market road budget, which was lowered to P16 billion after being doubled to P33 billion last year.
It is also substantially below the P260 billion initially proposed to the Department of Budget and Management.
The FFF also reiterated its call for a “farmers first” policy in the selection and procurement of farm machinery, seeds, fertilizer and other supplies provided by the DA.
“Combined with a voucher distribution system, qualified farmer-beneficiaries and their cooperatives and associations would be empowered to choose the equipment and inputs that — in their experience — have proven to be effective, and to acquire them in a timely manner,” the FFF said.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. earlier this year ordered a nationwide investigation of alleged anomalies in the DA’s procurement system following a complaint from the FFF.
