The Department of Agriculture (DA) aims to elevate food security in 2025, targeting a record rice harvest and enhanced agricultural systems.
During the first Management Committee meeting of the year, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. urged DA officials and staff to strive for greater achievements despite ongoing challenges.
In his message, read by Undersecretary for Operations Roger Navarro, Tiu Laurel stressed the importance of bold action to secure food supply chains and protect farmers, fisherfolk, and consumers.
“We achieved significant progress in 2024, but 2025 demands bigger goals and stronger resolve,” the agriculture chief said.
The agriculture head highlighted the DA’s efforts to stabilize food prices and address disruptions last year but stressed that rising input costs, climate variability, and smuggling remain key hurdles to food security.
The DA’s 2025 goals include achieving a record rice harvest of 20.46 million metric tons and improving logistics for perishable goods like vegetables and fruits.
The DA’s 2025 goals include achieving a record rice harvest of 20.46 million metric tons and improving logistics for perishable goods like vegetables and fruits.
He also emphasized developing infrastructure like cold chain systems and regional production hubs to reduce post-harvest losses and ensure food availability in local markets.
The path to achieving these objectives, however, is fraught with challenges. Rising fuel and fertilizer costs are straining farmers’ resources, while global economic factors continue to drive up production expenses. Unlike 2024, unpredictable weather patterns linked to El Niño and La Niña are not expected to immediately impact agriculture this year.
Tiu Laurel expressed optimism for 2025, citing DA’s strengthened focus and government support.
“We have the tools and resources to succeed, but our success depends on your leadership, collaboration, and commitment.”
“We have the tools and resources to succeed, but our success depends on your leadership, collaboration, and commitment,” he told DA personnel.
With clear priorities and a unified approach, the DA is set to tackle obstacles head-on, aiming to transform challenges into opportunities. By increasing food production, modernizing agricultural infrastructure, and prioritizing farmer welfare, the agency seeks to foster sustainable growth in the agricultural sector.
