National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan has reiterated the need to enhance the resilience of the domestic agriculture sector amid the risks being faced by farmers amid climate change.

In his keynote speech during the 2023 Asia-Pacific agricultural policy roundtable on Monday, Balisacan said balancing climate mitigation and productivity-enhancing interventions would help the agriculture sector withstand the impacts of climate shocks.

The country’s top economist urged stakeholders in the agriculture sector to invest in measures that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

He cited possible synergies and interventions that raise agricultural productivity, which include crop rotation, intercropping, alternate wetting and drying, and precision agriculture.

Balisacan said these practices have the potential to cut emissions while simultaneously enhancing soil health, crop harvests, and profitability.

“Given the complexity and context-specific nature of the trade-offs and synergies between climate change mitigation and agricultural production, we must consider food security, rural livelihoods, and economic development in identifying and implementing mitigation strategies,” he added.

Balisacan noted that to enhance the resilience and profitability of the agricultural sector, it is essential to consistently incorporate climate risks and sustainability into the development and implementation of measures to improve agricultural productivity.

This would involve regularly conducting climate risk and vulnerability assessments and integrating them into agricultural plans at the sectoral level, he said.

For the government, Balisacan said the administration has allocated resources to implement interventions for the adoption of profitable, climate-smart and resilient technologies through the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028.

“To realize these strategies, the Philippines seeks to prioritize investment in research, development, and extension of climate-smart and resilient technologies, including nature-based solutions. The country also aims to improve the marketability and profitability of low-carbon technologies and products by facilitating linkages and collaboration among innovators, entrepreneurs, and industries,” the NEDA chief said. (PNA)