The Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) asked the government to increase investments in high-value crops to boost production, expand exports and improve farmers’ incomes.
PCAFI, a coalition of 48 agriculture groups, called for greater funding for crops such as coffee, cacao, okra, calamansi and bamboo, as well as key fruit exports.
For coffee, PCAFI proposed a P500-million budget to plant 5 million trees nationwide. It also sought an additional P3 billion for industry development, with P1 billion each allocated for a coffee research institute, a credit facility for farmers and a trading hub and instant coffee processing plant.
“We need to raise yields from 300 grams to 1 kilogram per tree through better training and planting materials,” PCAFI president Danilo Fausto said.
The group also called for the appointment of regional coffee focal persons and the streamlining of nursery accreditation to increase competition and lower prices.
PCAFI sought the establishment of a P1-billion cacao research institute and increased support for research and development through the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Science and Technology, possibly using coconut levy funds for intercropping programs.
The group also recommended reviewing the Philippine Cacao Industry Roadmap and setting up farmer training centers.
To boost fruit exports, PCAFI proposed organizing production “districts” around packing and processing facilities for mango, banana, pineapple and other crops to reduce market costs and improve efficiency. It also pushed for P100 million per region to support bamboo production, noting the sector once generated $30 million in exports.
For okra, PCAFI urged the Department of Agriculture to provide fertilizers, chemicals, and zero-interest loans, and to upgrade testing facilities to meet Japan’s residue limits. Fausto warned that without proper testing, exports could be rejected.
The group also recommended seeking International Geographic Indication (IGI) status for Philippine calamansi to protect its identity as global competition rises.
PCAFI called for the establishment of a chemical testing lab in Region XII to detect contaminants such as Basic Yellow 2, which recently led to China’s rejection of durian shipments from other countries.
“We need the lab in place before the July to November durian season,” Fausto said.
