By Rachel Magday

 

Nueva Vizcaya Lone District Rep. Atty Timothy Joseph E. Cayton has urged the Department of Agriculture (DA) to include vegetable farmers in the coverage of the Presidential Assistance for Farmers, Fisherfolk, and their Families Program (PAFFP), citing their crucial role in ensuring the country’s food supply.

Cayton made the appeal during the North Luzon Growth Quadrangle meeting, where he said vegetable growers are also bearing the impact of rising production costs, unstable farmgate prices and market uncertainties.

“Our vegetable farmers are also carrying the burden of high production costs and fluctuating market prices. They are an essential part of our food supply chain, and they should not be left behind in government assistance programs,” Cayton said.

He said Nueva Vizcaya is among the country’s vegetable-producing provinces and serves as one of the sources of vegetables supplied to Metro Manila.

Cayton added that Nueva Vizcaya plays an important role in helping stabilize vegetable supply, particularly when production problems affect the Cordillera Administrative Region, another major vegetable-producing area.

“When there are disruptions in vegetable production in the Cordillera, Nueva Vizcaya helps respond to the needs of Metro Manila. This shows how important our vegetable farmers are not only to the province but also to food security in the capital and other markets,” Cayton said.

He said expanding the PAFFP to cover vegetable farmers would provide much-needed support to growers who continue to face increasing costs of seeds, fertilizer, fuel, labor and transport.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Laurel Jr. said the DA is open to expanding the coverage of the program if additional funding is made available by the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

The PAFFP is a government assistance program intended to support farmers, fisherfolk and their families affected by economic challenges in the agriculture and fisheries sectors.