Sen. Cynthia A. Villar said there is a need to promote high-value crop production in the country, noting that the local agricultural sector still faces limited diversity, low productivity, and only a few successful high-value agribusinesses after 28 years.
Since the implementation of RA No.7900 or the “High-Value Crops Development Act of 1995,” Villar said the country still has a long way to go to reach its goals.
Speaking during the 28th Anniversary of the High Value Crops (HVC) implementation, Villar said the law was passed to give an opportunity to diversify crop production and promote the development of agribusiness value chain.
“High-value crops refer to crops that have defined regular or niche market or has potential domestic and/or export markets, or command high prices, whether in fresh or processed form,” Villar said.
“High-value crops provide higher net returns per hectare or crops that have competitive returns on investments,” she added.
But after the lapse of 28 years, she lamented that we are yet to achieve fully high-vale crops or the non-traditional crops.
And Villar said we need organic farming also to manage waste and bring down input cost.
According to the senator, she has 89 composting facilities in Las Piñas through their Villar Sipag Foundation and 50 nationwide through their company, Vista Land.
Each facility produces a ton of compost a month or a total of 139 tons which are given for free to farmers and gardeners nationwide.
“The National High Value Crops Program has been with me in promoting composting. They have been distributing shredders and composting machines thru the Bureau of Soils and Water Management to farmers to process their kitchen, garden, and farm waste to improve soil fertility to correct the degradation of our soils.”
Even before the pandemic, Villar said she has been promoting Home and School Vegetable Gardening in Las Piñas.
“During the pandemic until now, I do it nationwide. Vegetables are efficient to generate cash even from a small plot of land in a short period of time and help farmers to improve their livelihood. In urban areas I have been encouraging Community gardens,” she further related.