Noting that the country’s agricultural sector still faces limited diversity, low productivity, and only a few successful high-value agribusinesses after 28 years, Senator Cynthia Villar cited the need to promote high value crop production.
Since the implementation of RA No.7900 or the “High-Value Crops Development Act of 1995,” Villar conceded we still have a long way to go to reach our goals.
“The law was passed to give an opportunity to diversify crop production and promote the development of the agribusiness value chain.”
Speaking during the 28th Anniversary of the High Value Crops (HVC) implementation, the veteran legislator said the law was passed to give an opportunity to diversify crop production and promote the development of agribusiness value chain.
“High-value crops refer to crops that have defined a regular or niche market or have potential domestic and/or export markets, or command high prices, whether in fresh or processed form,” said the chairperson of the Senate agriculture and food committee.
“High-value crops provide higher net returns per hectare or crops that have competitive returns on investments,” the seasoned lawmaker added.
But after the lapse of 28 years, the lady senator lamented that we are yet to achieve fully high-value crops or the non-traditional crops.
“We also need organic farming to manage waste and bring down input cost.”
She said we also need organic farming to manage waste and bring down input cost.
According to Villar, she has 89 composting facilities in Las Piñas through their Villar Sipag Foundation and 50 nationwide through their company, Vista Land.
Each facility produces a ton of compost a month or a total of 139 tons which are given for free to farmers and gardeners nationwide.
“The National High Value Crops Program has been with me in promoting composting. They have been distributing shredders and composting machines through the Bureau of Soils and Water Management to farmers to process their kitchen, garden, and farm waste to improve soil fertility to correct the degradation of our soils,” she said.
Even before the pandemic, Villar said she has been promoting Home and School Vegetable Gardening in Las Piñas.
“During the pandemic until now, I do it nationwide. Vegetables are efficient to generate cash even from a small plot of land in a short period of time and help farmers to improve their livelihood. In urban areas I have been encouraging Community gardens,” she explained.
