The Department of Agriculture (DA) has announced its proposal to increase its budget by fourfold for the upcoming year to strengthen support for Filipino farmers.
According to the agency, this move is aimed at reducing the need for agricultural imports.
The Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF) reports that the DA-National Corn Program (DA-NCP) is requesting more than a 300% increase in its budget, raising it from the current P5 billion to a significantly larger allocation.
The increased budget will be used to enhance services for local production, in line with the agency’s efforts to boost domestic agricultural output and decrease corn imports.
Milo delos Reyes, director of the DA-NCP, stated that the larger budget will ensure the provision of more seeds and fertilizers to farmers across the country.
Delos Reyes further revealed that the agency is planning to launch a program aimed at increasing the income of corn farmers and others in the sector.
