Print this page

Cebu food security program intensified

By Kier Edison C. Belleza2 January 2018 Philippines

Cebu City — The Cebu provincial government vowed to continue to provide equipment for programs involved in the improvement and progress of the agricultural sector here.

This came after Governor Hilario Davide said his goal is to achieve the food security agenda for the entire province.

A projection of 1.4 million Filipinos will be at risk of hunger by 2030 and another 2.5 million, 20 years later. This, due to lower agricultural production caused by climate change.

In the 2016 Climate Change Vulnerability Index, among 186 countries worldwide, the Philippines ranked 13th as most climate-vulnerable.

Last year, the Cebu provincial government spent P19.3 million for agri-machinery and building of agricultural facilities.

Of this amount, more than P10 million was allocated for farming equipment while another P6.3 million was allotted for dairy and meat safety equipment.

The remaining P2.6 million was spent for agricultural facilities.

“Our farmers put food on our tables. It is but right to extend all types of support that they need to make sure that they yield good harvest,” said Davide.

More than 260,000 seedlings of cacao, corn, sweet potato, jackfruit and other vegetables as well as fertilizers were handed to farmers, local government units and schools to fulfill the food security agenda.

Part of the agenda is the series of trainings conducted under the Farmer Scientists’ Training Program (FSTP). FSTP trains farmers the scientific methods to increase their harvest within three phases.

This year, a total of 2,426 farmer-scientists graduated. Of this number, 1,346 farmers were able to complete Phase 3, which means that they are qualified to teach other farmers.

The Fishermen Scientists’ Training Program (FishSTP) was also launched this year where 35 fisherfolks from Argao completed the first phase of the program.

Similar to the FSTP, FishSTP is also divided into three phases.

Last month, Gordon Alan Joseph, honorary consul to the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Cebu, said the Dutch government is working out plans to help boost the agricultural productivity in Central Visayas, particularly in Cebu.