NextGen Day

Rep. Wilbert T. Lee of the AGRI Party list has emphasized the need to immediately address the lack of post-harvest facilities, which may have led to low local output and skyrocketing food prices in addition to the high prices of agricultural products like onions and other vegetables.

Following comments made by Ramon Silverio, chairman of the Kaakibat Provincial Cooperative Council, during a briefing by the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture and Food on January 25 regarding the state of the nation’s onion industry, Lee reiterated his call for more post-harvest facilities in a statement released on Friday.

Although the government has more than sufficient plans for production, Silverio noted during the briefing that there seems to be a dearth of programs for marketing its products, particularly during the harvest season.

When the harvest season arrives, we hope that you will be able to assist us in marketing our products as well. “Sana po pagdating naman ng anihan, doon sa pagbebenta naman ng producto, dapat po matulungan din ninyo po kami,” the farmer leader stated.

“Cold storage facilities should be rapidly supplied so that farmers may also have the right to choose the price for their crop,” the proverb says. “Dapat malagyan na po kaagad ng cold storage para naman po meron namang karapatan ang magsasaka na magtakda ng presyo ng kanilang ani.”

When the 2023 national budget was being discussed, Lee claimed that he had urged immediate action to be taken on the shortage of post-harvest facilities.

Due to excessively significant post-harvest losses, he emphasized that not enough agricultural products are reaching the market.

He added that the country’s agricultural value chain needs to be reorganized to guarantee that products directly connect to markets and customers.

“Napakalaki ng diperensya sa pondong ipinagkakaloob para sa pre-harvest activities kumpara sa inilalaan sa post-harvest facilities and services,” the statement continued. Using the product’s dinadaanan as a starting point for marketing (The budget allocated for pre-harvest operations differs significantly from that earmarked for post-harvest infrastructure and services. A lot must happen before farm products can be sold on the market. The government has to strengthen and streamline farm-to-market connections and give post-harvest facilities more support, according to the Sorsogon congressman.

Pre-harvest operations received PHP48.23 billion under the 2023 National Budget, but only PHP17.14 billion was allowed for post-harvest facilities and services.

The Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization will implement a significant portion of the budget for post-harvest facilities this year (PhilMech).

According to Lee, he met with Dr. Dionisio Alvindia, director of PhilMech, during the budget briefing last year and repeatedly emphasized the need to rapidly offer additional support for post-harvest facilities. The latter agreed and promised to put this into action.

When using it, patuloy tayong magbabantay at makikipag-ugnayan sa DA at PhilMech. The funds cannot be harmed in any way. Dapat gamitin ito agad sa mga pasilidad na magpapataas sa kita at mangingisda produksyon ng mga magsasaka at. We will continue to keep an eye on this situation and work with the DA and PhilMech to find solutions. Money shouldn’t be left sitting around. They must be put to use right away for the construction of infrastructure that would increase the output and profits of farmers and fishers, so bringing down the cost of goods. We all succeed with this plan,” remarked Lee.

The Post-Harvest Facilities Support Act, introduced by Lee in the 19th Congress, would compel the government to build and maintain post-harvest facilities across the nation, particularly in agricultural areas, in order to reduce post-harvest production losses and boost the pay of agricultural workers.

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