The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Thursday urged corporations in the agriculture sector to tap the capital market for funding.
It introduced guidelines for SEC Securing & Expanding Capital for Farms & Agri-business Related Modernization Schemes (SEC FARMS) which aims to streamline securities registration and allow companies to raise up to P500 million per project.
SEC chairman Francis Lim said the program is designed to provide much-needed capital to the sector, which he called the “backbone of our economy.”
“We know that agriculture is the backbone of our economy—it feeds our people and sustains millions of families. Yet farmers and agri-businesses have often been left with little water to grow—the water here being capital or financing,” Lim said.
“SEC FARMS is our way of irrigating that field, making sure resources reach those who need them most so you can modernize, expand and thrive,” said Lim.
Established under SEC Memorandum Circular No. 8, Series of 2023, the SEC FARMS program simplifies the registration process for agri-business securities to encourage investment and growth.
Under the program, the SEC should review the registration statements of agri-business firms within 28 days from the date of filing.
The initiative supports the Marcos administration’s “Masaganang Agrikultura, Maunlad na Ekonomiya” program, which promotes farm clustering, modernization and industrialization of the agriculture sector.
“Think of SEC FARMS as a new set of farming tools—lighter, sharper, and more efficient. With the right tools, your hard work will yield bigger harvests, not just for your families but for the whole nation,” Lim said.
“We are only at the start of this journey, but with your participation, I believe SEC FARMS can make Philippine agriculture more productive, competitive and sustainable,” he said.
