Farm-to-market initiatives' bottleneck resolution sought

A party-list group has pledged to pursue legislation to strengthen farm-to-market initiatives, aiming to address issues of agricultural oversupply and undelivered produce.

According to 132 GP Party-list first nominee Atty. JP Padiernos, there were reports that tomato farmers in Nueva Ecija were giving away their produce on highways due to farm gate prices plummeting to as low as P4 per kilogram.

This situation follows a sharp price surge in January, when the Department of Agriculture reported tomato prices reached P360 per kilogram, with medium-sized tomatoes costing at least P20 in Metro Manila markets.

Padiernos stressed the need for legislative measures to resolve bottlenecks and inefficiencies in the farm-to-market system, allowing for better distribution of oversupply and price stabilization across regions.

"This oversupply or undelivered supply to the wholesale market should not happen in an agricultural country like the Philippines," Padiernos said. "If there is proper management of the government's farm-to-market initiatives, it will surely help our farmers."

The party-list believes these initiatives will improve farmers' market access and strengthen agricultural resilience and food security.

Padiernos also cited tomato price fluctuations due to produce availability during typhoons, emphasizing the need for improved storage systems for all agricultural products.

The 132 GP Party-list outlined proposed bills to boost economic growth through sustainable agriculture, including developing waste-to-energy technologies, establishing industrial ecozones and creating hatcheries to support local farming.