Senate Approves Key Agriculture and Fisheries Support Bills

The Philippine Senate on Tuesday approved on third and final reading two agriculture-related measures seeking to institutionalize agricultural and fisheries cooperatives and create a Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Extension. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Francis Pancratius “Kiko” N. Pangilinan stated that the proposed bureau would assist farmers and fisherfolk in adopting climate-resilient technologies and improving their productivity. He added that the measures aim to enhance food security and reduce food prices by providing better support services to the agriculture sector. These legislative actions are seen as crucial steps to address the challenges faced by the Philippine agriculture sector, particularly concerning the impacts of climate change and low productivity. The establishment of the Bureau of Agricultural and Fisheries Extension is expected to strengthen the system for delivering knowledge on the latest technologies and sustainable farming practices directly to farmers and fisherfolk. This initiative is anticipated to contribute to stabilizing food supply and benefiting the lives of citizens. Agriculture remains a cornerstone industry supporting the livelihoods of a significant portion of the Philippine population. Improving its productivity and stability is fundamental to the nation's economy. In recent years, the frequency of natural disasters and fluctuations in global food prices have directly impacted domestic food security. The passage of these bills represents the government's concrete efforts to tackle these issues. Source: BusinessWorld Nation