Article by:
Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos
MANILA – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. disclosed on Tuesday that he has directed the Department of Agriculture (DA) to ensure the faster delivery of farm inputs, including seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides nationwide.
In an open forum at the 2026 National Irrigation Administration (NIA) - National Confederation of Irrigators Association (NCIA) General Assembly at the NIA Headquarters in Diliman, Quezon City, Marcos pledged to expedite the delivery of farm inputs to prevent delays in planting and crop losses, which are often caused by centralized procurement and distribution systems.
“Sabi ko, agahan ninyo ang bili para pagdating ng planting season ay nandiyan na (I said, buy it early so that when planting season comes, it will be available),” he said, noting that imported inputs often take months to arrive and reach farming communities.
Farmers from Mindanao and the Visayas expressed relief, saying that delays had caused wastage of inputs and missed planting windows in seasons.
Marcos said fertilizers and pesticides should be procured and stored ahead of the planting season to prevent shortages.
He also emphasized the importance of mechanization, technical assistance and digital tools to monitor irrigation and input requirements.
Marcos said the new system would enhance productivity, reduce wastage, and mobilize the deployment of resources to farmers.
Stakeholders’ inputs, concerns
The President also stressed the need to listen to farmers and irrigators to improve agricultural services, acknowledging that hearing complaints and solutions from farmers allows the government to act effectively.
“Kailangan mapakinggan natin ‘yung mga hinaing, ‘yung mga problema at kung minsan ‘yung mga solusyon na puwede nating dalhin na sa mga nararamdaman ng ating magsasaka, nararamdaman ng ating mga irrigators upang mapaganda ang ating pagbigay ng serbisyo (We need to listen to their grievances, their problems, and sometimes the solutions we can already bring, to address what our farmers and our irrigators are feeling, so that we can improve the way we deliver our services),” he said.
NCIA president Remy Albano thanked Marcos for supporting more than 1.3 million farmers across 11,813 irrigators associations, noting that machinery, harvest facilities, rice processing systems, and solar-powered irrigation pumps from the government have given farmers hope and improved their livelihoods.
During the forum, several irrigators raised some issues, including the delayed delivery of farm inputs and challenges in communal irrigation management.
Marcos said these concerns underline the need to coordinate closely with irrigators and use technology for better planning and distribution.
He assured farmers that national agencies, including NIA and the DA, would continue providing support by implementing several initiatives, including the rehabilitation of irrigation systems and new infrastructure to strengthen local water management.
Marcos said an open dialogue with farmers is essential to achieving agriculture and food security in the Philippines.
He urged irrigators to continue sharing their experiences and concerns so the government can address them promptly and efficiently. (PNA)
Log in with Google