SEARCA helps craft national agri-fishery modernization, industrialization plan

The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with SyCip Gorres Velayo & Co. (SGV), was tapped by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to formulate the National Agriculture and Fishery Modernization and Industrialization Plan (NAFMIP) 2021-2030, the 10-year directional plan of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

The NAFMIP 2021-2030 was presented and launched publicly during the 2022 National Farmers and Fisherfolks’ Month held last May with former Agriculture Secretary William Dar leading the ceremonial acceptance of the plan by agri-fishery stakeholders. Farmers and fishers also signed a pledge of support to the NAFMIP during the acceptance rites.

“The NAFMIP is anchored on the New Thinking for Agriculture, including its eight paradigms, namely, modernization of agriculture, industrialization of agriculture, promotion of exports, farm consolidation, infrastructure development, higher budget and investments for agriculture, legislative support, and roadmap development,” said SEARCA Director Dr. Glenn B. Gregorio.

“The intent is to increase the productivity (Masaganang Ani) and double the livable income (Mataas na Kita) of farmers and fisherfolks in the next 10 years,” Gregorio said.

He added that the priority programs and projects of DA focusing on the New Thinking for Agriculture and the relevant laws and development frameworks vital to agriculture and fisheries development also served as bases in developing the plan.

To ensure the plan’s inclusiveness and relevance, Gregorio said a series of consultations and validation workshops with different stakeholders was conducted. Among the stakeholders consulted are the DA regional offices and attached agencies and bureaus.

Gregorio said the interrelated plans that form part of the NAFMIP include commodity system-based planning, integrated spatial planning, and sustainable land and water management in identification of suitable investment. These interrelated plans were presented and discussed with DA and its stakeholders in cascading and technical workshops organized by SEARCA.

To ensure that the plan will be properly communicated to the grassroots, thereby strengthening the participation of agri-fishery stakeholders, Gregorio said the NAFMIP includes a strategic communication plan that provides detailed strategies on how NAFMIP will be effectively conveyed from planning up to its implementation.

Moreover, Gregorio noted that the NAFMIP was designed as a trans-administration plan with actionable strategies that transcend political changes and devolution.

The NAFMIP Preparation Team comprised high-caliber experts and consultants from SEARCA, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and SGV.  Hired directly by ADB, Mr. Cesar Umali Jr. served as the Development Planning Specialist and Team Leader. Dr. Marites M. Tiongco, agribusiness value chain expert, led the SEARCA consultants, namely, Dr. Eufemio T. Rasco, Jr., agricultural crops, livestock, and poultry expert; Dr. Caesar B. Cororaton, policy trade and regularizations expert; Dr. Maria Celeste H. Cadiz, editor; Dr. Cris Tiburan Jr., GIS expert; Dr. Cleto Nañola Jr., fisheries and marine expert; and Dr. Patricia Ann J. Sanchez, sustainable land management expert.

The NAFMIP was crafted in close coordination with the DA-Planning and Monitoring Service (PMS)-Planning and Programming Division (PPD) under the supervision of Agriculture Undersecretary Fermin Adriano and Assistant Secretary Agnes Miranda, who is also Director of DA-PMS.

DA received 300 print copies of the NAFMIP from SEARCA last July 4