High-value crops need more budget support — DA

The Department of Agriculture's (DA) high-value crops program is seeking an additional P5 billion budget next year to expand its projects aimed at reducing farmers' wastage and improving their income, a ranking official said.

- By JASPER EMMANUEL ARCALAS

Agriculture Undersecretary Cheryl Marie Natividad-Caballero said the additional funding would bring the programs' total budget to P7.1 billion, more than triple its current budget of P2.1 billion.

At present, the DA's high-value crops allocation of P2.1 billion is being shared by various commodities from onion, garlic to coffee, cacao and even fruits.

The proposed additional funding will be used by the DA to make "strategic" interventions that will "derisk" the high-value crops sector to attract more investments from private sector and enhance participation of farmers.