RAFC 6 pushes for new marketing system
Banking on the inaugural promise of President Benigno Aquino III for more trading centers and better prices for farm commodities, the Regional Agri-Fishery Council is calling on this administration to study, re-engineer and institutionalize a marketing system for agri-fishery products.
RAFC 6 chair Ricardo Provido said while government support system for agriculture may be in place, what the farmers need are fast and easy access to information that can help them deal with current prices, availability of farm inputs and existing policies so that they can make sound farming decisions.
“Better and updated information for farmers and fisherfolk redound to bigger, better incomes out of their commodities,” Provido said in a Philippine News Agency report.
Provido also said that a new marketing system for agri-fishery sector is the establishment of a National Market Information System, where farmers are better informed about technology, equipment and training available for them at a faster time.
President Aquino said part of his administration’s “genuine care” for the farmers are provision of irrigation, extension services, trading centers and the elimination of middle men in marketing transactions.
Provido said giving farmers access to information technologies will boost the benefits they get from government and their role will no longer be taken for granted as they are better informed.
“With an improved Agri-Fishery Market Information System, the farmers will no longer be fooled,” Provido added.
He further said that let it be the mindset of people that farming and fishery activities are business activities, hence they need current information to improve their trade.