Sen. Cynthia A. Villar has underscored the need to invest in research and development (R&D) to hasten the growth and development of the agriculture sector.
Villar, chairperson of the Senate Agriculture and Food Committee, stressed that agriculture growth is very important because majority or two-thirds of the population are directly and indirectly involved in agriculture.
She advocated for the incorporation of R&D in the agriculture sector, which also helps improve agricultural mechanization efforts.
The senator was the guest speaker during the turnover ceremony of decorticating machines recently. The machines will help increase the productivity and income of the farmer-beneficiaries, especially the 3.5-million coconut farmers.
“If we address the poverty among the coconut farmers and the rice farmers, I believe it will have a huge impact in improving our country’s poverty level since they compose 90 percent of all our farmers,” said Villar.
In the Senate, Villar said they have passed the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund bill to safeguard the R100-billion coconut levy fund.
