Tools We Need To Win Battle Against Hunger

One of the biggest irregularities in the agriculture sector of the country which prevailed for ages was the procurement and distribution of equipment and tools which were of no use to farmers.
Most of these equipment and tools were later left to rot and rust wasting billions of precious government funds.
The first shocking discovery I made when I was appointed Agriculture Secretary in 2016 was the hundreds of equipment and tools which were not distributed to farmers and exposed to the elements.
Many of the equipment did not fit the requirements of the local farmers, like the gigantic Harvesters which were not used because of the small rice and corn farms in the country.
The good news is that the Department of Agriculture is now addressing this problem and has started organizing the country’s metal fabricators to make the equipment and tools which the farmers and fishermen actually need.
The best move that the DA could now take is organize an Expo of agricultural and aqua equipment and tools where farmers and fishermen would be invited to identify those that they need most.
The DA had this Expo before called “Makina-Saka” which showcased both local and foreign made equipment and tools.
Once the needed equipment and tools are identified, Filipino fabricators could be given support by government to start up the Agricultural Machinery Manufacturing Industry which could provide business opportunities and jobs.
Providing our food producers with the right equipment and tools is just like arming our soldiers with the needed weapons to win the war, this time against hunger and rural poverty.
#GovernanceIsCommonSense!