In a bid to jumpstart the agriculture sector’s productivity and shield local farmers from volatile markets, the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI) is urging the Marcos administration to adopt a set of structural and policy reforms in the remaining three years of its term.

At the top of PCAFI’s recommendations is the establishment of floor farmgate prices for key commodities such as rice and corn. The group argues that a minimum pricing mechanism –—implemented in partnership with the private sector — will help stabilize farmer incomes amid fluctuating market conditions.

To support evidence-based policymaking, PCAFI also underscored the urgent need to fast-track the development of a real-time data information system, as mandated under Republic Act 8435 or the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act.

Part of this strategy includes requiring all cold storage facilities and warehouses nationwide to register prior to operation. “Reliable data is fundamental in crafting sound agricultural policies,” the group emphasized.

As the government continues to balance importation with domestic production, PCAFI called for a rationalized food import policy that allows imports only to fill domestic shortfalls, ensuring that farmer prices are protected while maintaining price stability for consumers.

The group also reiterated its support for structural reforms within the Department of Agriculture (DA), including the proposed creation of a Bureau of Agriculture Cooperative and the revival of the Bureau of Agricultural Extension Services or a similar body.

These agencies, PCAFI said, would help cluster farmers, improve rural outreach, and scale up productivity.

For the livestock and poultry feed industry, PCAFI proposed that the DA allocate P500 million for every 1,000 hectares of corn farms in Regions II, X, and XII — areas with biannual planting cycles — to boost feed material supply.

The group also pushed for stronger logistics infrastructure and the promotion of alternative feed crops like cassava and sweet potato to mitigate raw material shortages.

Beyond crops, PCAFI is urging reforms in the fisheries sector, particularly in the licensing system for small municipal fishermen. The group advocated for a unified registry and the granting of cross-border fishing rights through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“The DILG must require the granting of licenses to small fishermen that will allow them to operate even beyond the borders of their respective municipalities,” PCAFI president Danilo Fausto said.

The group also highlighted the potential of the government’s milk feeding program both as a nutrition initiative and a livelihood enhancer for dairy farmers.

PCAFI is calling for the extension of the program from 12 to 120 feeding days and for its implementation to be returned to the National Dairy Authority to reduce the administrative burden on public school teachers.

Lastly, the group urged the revival of a rice-corn blend commercialization project to reduce the country’s rice dependency and promote healthier alternatives.

PCAFI claims that even a once-a-week consumption of the rice-corn mix could cut national rice demand by 30 to 50 percent.