Farmers’ groups are pushing for the return of some 25,000 agricultural extension workers from local governments to the Department of Agriculture (DA).
The Federation of Free Farmers (FFF) and Magsasaka party-list said in a statement yesterday the devolution of farm technicians under the Local Government Code of 1991 has brought about a “structural disconnect” in the implementation of agricultural programs between the DA and local government units.
Leonardo Montemayor, FFF chairman, and Argel Joseph Cabatbat, Magsasaka party-list president, said the removal of DA’s direct line supervision over the field extension force has caused delayed delivery of seeds, fertilizer and technical and other support services to millions of farmers.
“It has badly hampered the effective execution and monitoring of national programs for the rural sector. All this has led to food production shortfalls and higher prices… In provinces, cities and municipalities where governors or mayors give low priority to agriculture, farm programs are neglected,” the parties said in a statement.
Many technicians were assigned as drivers, security guards and similar duties instead of functioning in the prevention of the spread of plant and animal diseases, they added.
The parties also pointed out devolution has curtailed the pay, career advancement and other incentives being enjoyed by rural extensionists when they were DA employees.
“Once re-nationalized, farm technicians will receive substantially bigger compensation and benefits from a ladderized promotion system,” the two leaders said.
