DA allots P300M for climate-resilient crop farming
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has earmarked about P300 million this year to enhance climate-resilient farming for high-value vegetables, in a bid to prevent price spikes caused by weather-related supply disruptions.
According to the DA, high-value crops, such as tomatoes, chili and bell peppers, experience sharp price fluctuations almost every year as extreme heat, heavy rains and flooding disrupt production.
“This is a perennial problem—sometimes chili pepper is very expensive, sometimes there is no supply at all; the same goes for bell peppers and tomatoes,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement on Friday.
“What we want is continuous production, year-round, whether it’s dry or rainy,” he added.
The initiative, called the “White Revolution,” will deploy basic greenhouses, drip irrigation and water-impounding systems, ensuring appropriate crop management and minimizing farmers’ exposure to volatile weather conditions.
Rain shelters and simpler greenhouse structures will be distributed to provide partial protection from the elements, making it a viable business model.
“These facilities protect crops from heavy rainfall, reduce flood risks and pest damage and enable more efficient water use through drip irrigation and misting systems, making them easier to replicate across farming communities,” the DA said.
Tiu Laurel said the program aimed to ensure sustained crop production even during El Niño or La Niña phenomena.
“With irrigation during dry months and cover during heavy rains, farmers are able to adapt with the changing weather conditions and are effectively able to plan their production based on market demand,” the agriculture chief added.
These systems will be placed near major consumption centers, including Metro Manila, Metro Cebu and Metro Davao, reducing delivery time and postharvest losses.
The DA is looking at adjacent provinces to cater to the Metro Manila market, including Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Laguna, Rizal and Quezon.
The initiative will be launched in chosen pilot towns to limit market risks during the initial rollout, with the government handling the distribution to public markets.
State-run Food Terminal Inc. has committed to purchase the harvest at pre-agreed prices, ensuring guaranteed income for farmers while the DA is setting up the system.
The program is modeled after South Korea and Cambodia’s protected cultivation system that helped boost vegetable production and achieve a reliable local food system.
