DA optimistic on farm sector growth

The government’s rice tariffication program, planting calendar adjustments and easy access credit program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) will likely be the main drivers of farm sector growth this year.

“An adjustment in the planting calendar for rice farmers in Northern Luzon, the ‘Southern Swing’ initiative which will identify new farming areas outside of typhoon paths, an aggressive easy access credit program, the P10 billion in tariffs from rice importation, the P10-billion Coco Levy Fund and a bigger budget allocation are expected to contribute to the robust growth of the agriculture sector, especially crops, in 2019,” Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol said in a statement on Thursday.