Boost private-sector ventures in agri for reg’l integration - NEDA
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Photo Courtesy of Philsense |
In spite of being one of the top ten rice producers in the world based on an IRRI (International Rice Research Insitute) data, the Philippines still needs to sow more agricultural investments to harvest agronomic competitiveness in the ASEAN economic integration set next year.
The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) supposes and suggests that the country is in need of more private-sector investments which may come in the forms of direct investments or through public-private partnerships (PPPs).
Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio M. Balisacan said in his speech during the 2014 Asia Pacific Agricultural Policy Roundtable at Pasay City that “one of the critical constraints to agricultural growth is the absence or the lack of efficient infrastructure system, particularly transport, power supply and communication infrastructure.”
The public-private partnerships for agricultural investments, according to Balisacan, would address constraints in the agriculture sector, specifically in the lack of infrastructure. If these agricultural constraints were addressed, it would “increase the cost of doing business and prevents small farmers from taking advantage of the opportunities in the rapidly growing areas, urbanized centers and foreign markets.”
He also noted that “as Southeast Asian economies collectively gear up for regional integration, it is important to understand how public-private partnership schemes could facilitate the modernization of the agriculture sector and the revitalization of rural economies.”
With all this in mind, Balisacan admitted that the “government cannot do this alone.”
He furthered on the importance of enhancing public-private partnership for agricultural development, particularly for the infrastructure and value chain development and management, as incorporated in the Updated 2011-2016 Philippine Development Plan, the country’s macroeconomic blueprint.
“The interventions include irrigation infrastructure, food-supply chain and postharvest services, production centers for various farm inputs, fish-farming infrastructure, and market and trading centers, among others,” Balisacan added.
Underscoring these investments on agricultural development, Balisacan further mentioned that the private sector investment, specifically in research, has been devoted to seed acquisition, exchange, distribution, and improvement of genetic stocks of crops, forest species, livestock, and fish using conventional and biotechnology applications.
These “private sector investments, may be made in the production and distribution of improved seed and livestock, production of fertilizers and pesticides, and the development of more efficient management practices to optimize crop production.”
Moreover, Balisacan stressed the crucial need of increasing productivity and production, expanding markets, improving participation and value-adding activities, and building disaster resilience in enhancing agricultural competitiveness.
As shown in a data from the National Statistical Coordination Board, the growth of agriculture was sustained by the sugarcane, cassava, corn and poultry sectors, in which the corn and poultry production interposes a significant contribution the growth of the agriculture sector.
Ultimately, these investment opportunities in preparation for the ASEAN economic integration should target the small farmers, which according to Balisacan, “continue to be the backbone of the agriculture and rural sector, where many of the poor are found.”
Although the Philippines has received improved economic grades which made our country earn several titles like the “bright spot” in Asia, Balisacan confessed that this economic growth “has yet to be felt by many of the poor, particularly small farmers.”
He said that to increasingly become active market players, “the potentials of the sector to contribute to growth” should be unleashed which “would mean empowering the marginal and poor producers [farmers and fishermen alike].” (Sources: neda.gov.ph, Business Mirror)
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