Funds for agri-reforms left out in 2007 budget?
TWO days before the World Food Day celebrations and with farmers literally shouting their clamor for agricultural reforms, Akbayan Representative Risa Hontiveros Baraquel told Boholano farmers of a planned amendment to the Congress approved budget to inject the funds for agricultural reforms.
This came even before the Senate takes up the Congress approved budget for 2007.
Coming in as guest speaker in a gathering, which banners “Investing in Food Security by Enhancing Sustainable Community-based Initiatives, Baraquel said the amendment would put in P3.7B funds for fisheries and agriculture sector reforms.
That day, October 18, at the Metrocenter Hotel, Rep. Baraquel along with Bhutan Minister of Agriculture Lyonpo Sangay Ngudep and Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Jesus Emmanuel Parras were guests to the gathering of farmers from the Philippines, Laos, Bhutan, Thailand, south and Central Vietnam and the representatives from the Farmers’ Consultative Council.
Reasoning out the Akbayan proposal, Baraquel said the amendment only comes a measly 2% of the trillion budget, and that would define the country’s agricultural reform directions in the next years.
The infusion of funds, it if would be approved by the Senate go for the construction of small water impounding systems projects, development of sustainable agriculture technologies, establishment of sustainable agriculture demonstration farms, farm to market roads, post harvest facilities and resources planning to empower farmers.
Reiterating her party’s commitment for the promotion of farmer’s rights with the Peasant Week, the party-list solon assured of the government’s support to sustainable agriculture development advocacy and its strong bias for alternative agriculture.
Published on Oct 15, 2006 by The Bohol Standard Newspaper
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