A project that aims to come up with a set of recommendations to address rural poverty, inequality, and economic growth in the agriculture sector will soon commence.
The project, “Facing the challenges: Agenda for action for the Philippine agricultural sector”, a collaboration between PCARRD and the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB), is seen to eventually serve as basis for crafting and advocating agenda for action to make the sector more competitive and effective vehicle for addressing the said concerns.
The specific outputs of the project are policy papers that will analyze pressing policy issues affecting Philippine agriculture; set policy directions addressing the identified policy issues; and promote wide and intelligent discussion of these issues within specific forum and in the mass media.
The project is very timely in the face of the new opportunity to influence the plans of the new administration after the national elections to make new strategic and workable policy reforms for the betterment of agriculture-dependent rural sector.
Among others, the policy papers to be crafted will address strategic concerns and directions in agricultural productivity, poverty and malnutrition, agrarian reform, rural institutions, supply chain, transportation system and market facilities, market information system, trade-related concerns, development of rural enterprises, sustainable agriculture in the midst of climate change, and alternative energy for rural development.
PCARRD and UPLB committed to contribute P1million and P800,000, respectively, for the project. Incidentally, a memorandum of agreement on the implementation of the project has already been executed.
The dean of UPLB’s College of Economics and Management, Dr. Flordeliza A. Lantican, will take the overall leadership of the project.