PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. highlighted on Thursday the need for the country’s agricultural sector to step up and be at par with international standards, saying agricultural modernization is the way forward for the sector.
In his speech during the inauguration of San Miguel Corp.’s World-Class Controlled-Climate Magnolia Poultry Farm in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur, President Marcos said the people should understand that the future of the agricultural sector lies in its modernization.
“We have to also explain to our people. We also have to show them that this is the way forward. This is the way of the future,” President Marcos said as he emphasized the Filipino people should think that the Philippines can also adopt to global practices in the agricultural sector.
“We can definitely do anything that they do abroad, anything that we can see that are advantageous to the food supply. We can adopt here and adjust it to the Philippine conditions,” he added.
“But again, that for me is the most important part, is that people realize that this is the way forward, we can no longer depend on the informal production of food in the way that we have depended on for very, very long time.”
The chief executive, who is also the concurrent Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA), explained that the “population density” and “the geopolitical situation” in the Philippines became “a great deal worse,” prompting the government to push forward to make sure that no one will be left hungry.
“And we are showing — this facility such as this are showing the way how to do it. We must industrialize our agriculture,” the President emphasized.
While moving towards agricultural modernization, President Marcos clarified that small producers will not be affected by agricultural modernization, pointing out that there are still different markets available for different sectors.
The President stood firm that the local community should still be included in whatever modernization efforts that the government and the private sector will initiate as they are the backbone of the economy.
