Eastern Visayas has an allocation of PHP3.81 billion for agriculture development this year, more than double compared to the 2023 funds, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said on Tuesday.

DA Eastern Visayas Regional Executive Director Andrew Orais said this year’s budget is higher than the PHP1.69 billion actual allotment in 2023 and PHP1.2 billion in 2022.

A big chunk of the outlay, or PHP1.91 billion, is intended for the repair, rehabilitation, and construction of farm-to-market roads (FMRs) in six provinces. The fund is intended to build and improve 119.34 kilometers, according to DA.

“It’s like opening more areas with improved access to the market. One of the concerns raised by our farmers is the poor road conditions leading to the market. This is also to expand our production areas, and we can bring in more equipment and people to areas where our services are needed,” Orais told reporters during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas here Tuesday.

Another major undertaking is the National Rice Program, with a budget of PHP1.08 billion.

Under this program is the distribution of fertilizers and high-quality rice seeds for 69,200 hectares of farm this year. A hectare needs at least one bag of seeds and fertilizer.

Other programs are intended for livestock, corn, high-value crops, organic farming, Halal food industry development, Special Area for Agriculture Development, mainstreaming climate-resilient agriculture, updating the registry system of basic sectors in agriculture, Kadiwa ng Pangulo, the Young Farmers Challenge, and providing fuel assistance to farmers.

Eastern Visayas is predominantly an agricultural region in terms of land area. Forty-five percent, or 976,415 hectares of its 2.14 million total land area, is devoted to agricultural production.

This year’s activities, Orais said, are in line with the 2023–2028 Eastern Visayas Regional Development Plan.

Under the plan, the region’s agricultural sector will pursue sound agricultural development strategies aligned with the National Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization and Industrialization Plan to raise the income level of farmers and fisherfolk and alleviate poverty.

The plan will follow a value chain approach and ecosystem-based adaptation geared towards an increase in agriculture and fishery production and productivity, a reduction of postharvest losses, improved processed agriculture and fishery products, and enhanced market access and support systems for the agri-fishery sector. (PNA)