FUEL subsidies and discounts for farmers and fisherfolks may provide temporary relief from surging oil prices but long-term solutions should be drawn up to attain food security, agriculture stakeholder said.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) recently issued Memorandum Circular No. 7 Series of 2022 , the implementing guidelines on the provision of fuel discount to farmers and fisherfolk.
The P500 million allotted will be used for machineries used in corn production, from land preparation to post-harvest, as well as motorized boats for fishing operations.
But the Philippine Maize Federation Inc. (PhilMaize) said only a small percentage of the 800,000 corn farmers may be able to avail of the fuel subsidy unless DA corrects its data.
Roger Navarro, PhilMaize president, in an online briefing yesterday, said the corn sector receives only P700 million funding support despite its big contribution since no specific agency is overseeing the industry.
Navarro said corn is currently planted in 2.5 million hectares of land in comparison with other crops with smaller total land area planted such as fibers, tobacco and coconut and have their own governing agencies.
PhilMaize said the industry is in need of post-harvest facilities as 60 percent of the annual corn volume are harvested from August to September or during the rainy season. This requires the use of mechanical dryers to speed up the process and ensure good quality.
âBut since we donât have those, we produce corn that is poor in quality and we get paid less for our harvest because of it. During the dry season, only 30 percent is harvested during the summer, which gives us 5 monthsâ worth of food,â Navarro said.
Pangisda Pilipinas echoed the need for a wider fuel subsidy as it excludes those not listed in DAâs official registry.
âWe hope everyone can avail of this P3,000 (subsidy)⌠not just those registered fishermen but also those who live in far- flung areas. They are the ones who need the money the most. P3,000 is a big help for those fishermen who are struggling right now,â said Pablo Rosales, PANGISDA president.
Rosales added the government should also craft an agricultural risk proof plan designed to prepare food producers for all kinds of disasters to lessen its impacts in the countryâs food security. (Malaya Business Insights/ Jed Macapagal)
