File photo from Department of Agriculture
MANILA – National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan on Monday cited the need to invest in research and technology to increase agricultural output.
"In other countries, their agriculture is very modern technology-driven. They're using hybrid [seeds], biotechnology so farmers have bigger income," Balisacan said in a radio interview.
Balisacan said that in the past, there was very little investment in developing the country's agriculture sector.
"We need to invest in appropriate technology and we are not doing that. We have very little investment in research and technology, especially in agriculture, that is why farmers do not have access to modern technology," he said.
Balisacan said President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is currently addressing these issues in the agriculture sector.
The President earlier vowed to build infrastructure and improve market linkages to improve farmers' income. (PNA)
