Govt urged to prioritize agri, food producers

There is a need to revisit the government's strategic plan for agriculture and rural development to ensure that local food producers and other agricultural workers get their much-needed support from the government, food security advocates said.

The Philippines has a long way to go toward achieving its food security goals, said Dr. Ronald Edilberto Ona, fean of the College of Sciences at Palawan State University. "We need to revisit our strategic plan for agriculture and rural development to ensure that our farmers, fisherfolk, and other agricultural workers, who comprise 40 percent of our labor force, are not left behind," he said.