‘Just import rice,’ focus on high-value crops

The agriculture sector could see growth accelerate if farmers abandon rice and shift to growing high-value crops, a Cabinet official claimed on Wednesday.

“A growth of maybe 3-4 percent is possible for the sector if we focus on high-value crops and just import rice,” Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno told reporters, adding that trade should also be liberalized as much as possible to realize the industry’s potentials.