TO facilitate higher agriculture yields amid challenges of La Niña and harsh typhoons, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) seeks more than P7-billion agriculture-development fund for 2016.
Budget Secretary Florencio B. Abad said the government aims to increase the allocation for a high-value commodity crop program to P2.919 billion in 2016 from the current P2.2 billion.
He said the proposed P3.002-trillion national budget for 2016 aims to promote inclusive growth by improving agriculture industry to create decent jobs and increase production.
The funds allocated to the Department of Agriculture aim to improve production of tropical fruits such as bananas, mangoes and pineapples as well as coffee and cacao.
The DBM, however, diverted P1.798 billion from the rehabilitation program of Yolanda-devastated coconut trees to Sugar Industry Development that cover 50 block farms and construction of 76.2-kilometer farm-to-mill roads.
Abad said the DBM gave “higher provision [P4.071 billion] and lower target for 2015 in response to Yolanda and scale and insect infestation.”
For 2016 the expected yields of coconut will be higher at 2.61 metric tons each.
The DBM also lowered the allocation for the corn-production program to only P2.249 billion in 2016 from the current P2.297 billion.