Executive Summary

One significance in the formulation of the Butuan City’s Strategic Agri-fisheries

Development Zones Plan is its alignment with the Vision of the City Government of
Butuan stated as “A Great Hub City of Opportunities for all that spurs and supports
Caraga’s growth and sustainable development. The vision adheres to the principle of
agriculture-led growth as one of the development strategy and the pursuit of a
sustainable and competitive annual growth rate of the agriculture sector and to increase
the level of investments for agricultural development to achieve the desired growth rate.

The plan is also premised on the City’s strategic objectives of making the local agri-
fishery sector competitive and sustainable bent on attaining food security in the areas of
sufficiency, affordability, availability and health, and the development of agro-industries
that would serve as drivers for economic development. The formulation of the plan and
its subsequent implementation seeks to contribute to the establishment of a competitive,
vibrant, livable, sustainable and smart -eco City of Butuan focused on achieving the
strategic outputs namely ;
1.
2.
3.
4.

o  modernize the agriculture and fisheries sectors by transforming these sectors

from a resource-based to a technology-based industry;
o to enhance profits and incomes in the agriculture and fisheries sectors,
particularly the small farmers and fisherfolk, by ensuring equitable access to
assets, resources and services, and promoting higher-value crops, value-added
processing, agribusiness activities, and agro-industrialization.

The NPAAAD covers:

o All irrigated areas including all irrigable lands already covered by irrigation projects with firm
funding commitments;
o All alluvial plain land highly suitable for agriculture whether irrigated or not;
o Agro-industrial crop lands or lands presently planted to industrial crops that
support the viability of existing agricultural infrastructure and agro-based
enterprises;
 o Highlands which are areas located at an elevation of five hundred (500) meters
or above and have the potential for growing semi temperate and high-value
crops;
o All agricultural lands that are ecologically fragile, the conversion of which will
result in serious environmental degradation;
o Mangrove areas;
o Fish sanctuaries.

1- Strategic Crop Sub-development Zone   2- Strategic Livestock Sub-development

Zone   3 - Strategic Fishery Sub-development Zone   4 - Strategic Integrated
Crop/Livestock Sub-development Zone   5 - Strategic Integrated Crop/Fishery Sub-
development Zone   6 - Strategic Integrated Crop/Livestock/Fishery Sub-development
Zone   7 - Strategic Integrated Fishery and Livestock Sub-development Zone   8 -
Remaining NPAAAD   9 - Agro-Forestry Zone   10 -Watershed/Forestry Zone   11 -
Built-up Areas   R/L - River wash   EZ – Economic Zone   MR – Military Reservation  
SD – Sand dunes/beach area NIPAS   Proposed Tourism   Proposed Recreation

o modernize the agriculture and fisheries sectors by transforming these sectors from a resource-
based to a technology-based industry;

b) To enhance profits and incomes in the agriculture and fisheries sectors, particularly
the small farmers and fisherfolk, by ensuring equitable access to assets, resources and
services, and promoting higher-value crops, value-added processing, agribusiness
activities, and agro-industrialization;

c) To ensure the accessibility, availability and stable supply of food to all at all times;

d) To encourage horizontal and vertical integration, consolidation and expansion of

agriculture and fisheries activities, group functions and other services through the
organization of cooperatives, farmers' and fisherfolk's associations, corporations,
nucleus estates, and consolidated farms and to enable these entities to benefit from
economies of scale, afford them a stronger negotiating position, pursue more focused,
efficient and appropriate research and development efforts and enable them to hire
professional managers;

e) To promote people empowerment by strengthening people's organizations,

cooperatives and NGO's and by establishing and improving mechanisms and resources
for their participation in government decision-making and implementation;

f) To pursue a market-driven approach to enhance the comparative advantage of our

agriculture and fisheries sectors in the world market;
g) To induce the agriculture and fisheries sectors to ascend continuously the value-
added ladder by subjecting their traditional or new products to further processing in
order to minimize the marketing of raw, unfinished or unprocessed products;

h) To adopt policies that will promote industry dispersal and rural industrialization by providing
incentives to local and foreign investors to establish industries that have backward linkages to the
country's agriculture and fisheries resource base;

i) To provide social and economic adjustment measures that increase productivity and improve
market efficiency while ensuring the protection and preservation of the environment and equity for
small farmers and fisherfolk; and

j) To improve the quality of life of all sectors.

he Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Plan shall focus on five (5) major concerns:

a. Food security;

b. Poverty alleviation and social equity;

c. Income enhancement and profitability, especially for farmers and fisher folk;

d. Global competitiveness; and

e. Sustainability.

ood Security , Poverty Alleviation, Social Equity and Income Enhancement. - The Department,
in coordination with other concerned departments or agencies, shall formulate medium-and long-
term plans addressing food security, poverty alleviation, social equity and income enhancement
concerns based on, but not limited to, the following goals and indicators for development:

a. Increased income and profit of small farmers and fisherfolk;

b. Availability of rice and other staple foods at affordable process;

c. Reduction of rural poverty and income inequality;

d. Reduction of the incidence of malnutrition;

e. Reduction of rural unemployment and underemployment; and

f. Improvement in land tenure of small farmers.

Global Competitiveness and Sustainability. - The Department shall formulate

medium-and-long-term plans aimed at enhancing the global competitiveness and
sustainability of the country in agriculture and fisheries based on, but not limited to, the
following goals and indicators for development:

a. Increase in the volume, quality and value of agriculture and fisheries

production for domestic consumption and for exports;

b. Reduction in post-harvest losses;

c. Increase in the number/types and quality of processed agricultural and fishery

products;

d. Increase in the number of international trading partners in agriculture and

fishery products;

e. Increase in the number of sustainable agriculture and fisheries firms engaged

in domestic production, processing, marketing and export activities;

f. Increase in and wider level of entrepreneurship among farmers and fisher folk
in the area;

g. Increase in the number of farms engaged in diversified farming; and

h. Reduced use of agro-chemicals that are harmful to health and the

environment.

 Special Concerns. - The Department shall consider the following areas of concerns,
among other in formulating the AFMP:

a. Strategies and programs aimed to achieve growth and profitability targets in

the context of the constraints and challenges of the World Trade Organization
(WTO);

b. Programs arising from the implementation of the Agrarian Reform Program;

c. Identification of SAFDZ;

d. Infrastructure and market support for the SAFDZ;

e. Infrastructure support to make agriculture and fisheries production inputs,

information and technology readily available to farmers, fisherfolk, cooperatives
and entrepreneurs;

f. Credit programs for small farmers and fisher folk, and agricultural graduates;

g. Comprehensive and integrated agriculture and fisheries research,

development and extension services;
 h. Preservation of biodiversity, genetic materials and the environment;

i. Adequate and timely response against environmental threats to agriculture and

fisheries;

j. Rural non-farm employment;

k. Access to aquatic resources by fisher folk;

l. Basic needs program for the impoverished sectors of society who will be
affected by liberalization;

m. Indigenous peoples;

n. Rural youth;

o. Women;

p. Handicapped persons; and

q. Senior citizens.

cope of the Agro-Industry Modernization Credit and Financing Program (AMCFP).. - The Agro-
Industry Modernization Credit and Financing Program shall include the packaging and
delivery of various credit assistance programs for the following:

a. Agriculture and fisheries production including possessing of fisheries and agri-

based products and farm inputs;

b. Acquisition of work animals, farm and fishery equipment and machinery;

c. Acquisition of seeds, fertilizer, poultry, livestock, feeds and other similar items;

d. Procurement of agriculture and fisheries products for storage, trading ,

processing and distribution;

e. Acquisition of water pumps and installation of tube wells for irrigation;

f. Construction , acquisition and repair of facilities for production, processing ,

storage, transportation, communication, marketing and such other facilities in
support of agriculture and fisheries;

g. Working capital for agriculture and fisheries graduates to enable them to

engage in agriculture and fisheries related economic activities;
 h. Agribusiness activities which support soil and water conservation and ecology-
enhancing activities;

i. Privately-funded and LGU-funded irrigation systems that are designed to

protect the watershed;

j. Working capital for long-gestating projects; and

k. Credit guarantees on uncollaterized loans to farmers and fisherfolks.

Section 31. Communal Irrigation Systems (CIS). - The Department shall, within five
(5) years from the effectivity of this Act, devolve the planning, design and management
of CISs, including the transfer of NIA's assets and resources in relation to the CIS, to
the LGUs. The budget for the development, construction, operation and maintenance of
the CIS and other types of irrigation systems shall be prepared by and coursed through
the LGUs. The NIA shall continue to provide technical assistance to the LGUs even
after complete devolution of the Irrigation Systems to the LGUs, as may be deemed
necessary.

The Divergence of Principles Key Issue The AFMA essentially places priority on
sustained increase in production, industrialization, and full employment. The FC, on the
other hand, prioritizes management, conservation and protection of fishery and aquatic
resources, optimal utilization of existing resources, and maintenance of ecological
balance and the quality of the environment. Although both laws coincide in some
general objectives such as achieving poverty alleviation, social equity, food security,
rational use of resources, people empowerment, and sustainable development, the
AFMA’s distinct character is borne of its additional goal of seeking global
competitiveness.
agricultural and fisheries sectors. The modernization of the fisheries sector would
however, entail increases in the utilization of limited coastal space and more efficient
extraction methods, and is therefore more likely to increase the rate of destruction of
vital habitats and the exploitation of resources beyond sustainable levels.

Towards this end, the development of the agriculture sector will rely on existing resources
(fertile lands, irrigation systems, marine and aqua products, technology, presence of local
commodity champions, internal financial resources and the external funds accessed by the City
Government of Butuan).

The state of performance of the local agriculture sector in Butuan City for the year 2017-
2018 indicates a negative growth of .46% in the area of yield per hectare on all
commodity crops. This growth rate is far below than the population growth of 1.62% per
annum. This means that per capita food production in Butuan City has declined at a
level worthy of serious considerations as this affects the food security plan of the City
Government of Butuan. Furthermore, this has a bearing to the plan of reducing the
poverty incidence in Butuan City.

On the macro side the agricultural sector in Butuan City faces a daunting set of
challenges which needs to be addressed which includes among others to wit:
1. Low levels of productivity across most crops sectors
2. Declining soil fertility coupled with low application rates of productivity enhancing
inputs
3. High losses due to pests, vectors and diseases infestations
4. Land tenure arrangements leading to underinvestment in agricultural lands
development
5. Over- exploitation of fish stocks
6. The struggle to comply with increasingly demanding quality standards and the
corresponding volume to meet the market demand and competitive prices
7. Inadequate infrastructure for value addition processes including marketing,
storage and distribution
8. Inefficiency of farm to market roads
9. Uncoordinated efforts among public sector implementing agencies
10. Multiple policy frameworks from different government agencies
11. Inadequate institutional coordination and linkages;
12. Negative consequences of climate change;
13. Degradation of the natural resource base; and others.
If more investments are made to address these issues, and achieve the desired growth
rate, the strategic objectives of a competitive and sustainable agri-fishery sector will be
meet. Therefore, mobilizing farmers who will be developed as local commodity
champions along the value chain development approach and accessing investments
(external and internal funds) is one of the strategies of enhancing the growth of the
agriculture sector towards competitiveness and sustainability.

Notwithstanding the challenges, there are also many important opportunities in the
agriculture sector and this plan outlines how the Office of the City Agriculturist intends to
exploit them. It provides a ‘roadmap’ to guide the City Government of Butuan thru the
Office of the City Agriculturist , the private sector, farmers’ organizations, other civil
society stakeholders and Development Partners ( national government agencies) to
make public interventions that will help meet the key objectives of growth, food security
and poverty reduction in the agricultural sector. As such, it is a combination of policies
and programs and projects around which stakeholders can build a consensus and then
mobilize the resources needed. This plan is based on a strategic development objective
of the Office of the City Agriculturist to produce a competitive and sustainable agri-
fishery sector.

Producing a competitive and sustainable agri-fishery sector cannot be achieved by the

Office of the City Agriculturist alone. Significant investments coming from other
government agencies are also needed implying the need for a greater collaboration and
convergence of all government agencies with interests to agricultural sector
development.

With due considerations, the immediate objectives in the formulation of this plan are the
following:

1. Increase the productivity of the land, labor and capital in crops, livestock and
fisheries
 2. Markets for primary and secondary agricultural products produced by the
farmers in Butuan City

3. A enabling environment that favors legal, policy and institutional frameworks that
facilitate private sector participation and engagement

4. Increased profitability along the entire value chain

5. Government agencies functioning as modern, client –oriented organizations

within an innovative, accountable and supportive environment.

The underlying logic is that if long run productivity can be improved, through existing or
new enterprises and/or farmers can be helped to move “up” the value chain by public
investments in value addition activities, then rural incomes and livelihoods will be
enhanced. The agricultural sector will then move towards greater profitability and an
improved capacity to compete.

Proposed investments under this plan are to be packaged under four (4) programs
representing key areas of opportunity namely:

1. Enhancing production and productivity

2. Improving access to markets and value addition

3. Creating an enabling environment

4. Institutional strengthening in the sector

Program 1: Enhancing Production and Productivity.

To realize the objectives of this program, the plan envisages to raise substantially the
productivity factors of land, labor and capital.

To realize the sector vision and objectives, factor productivity (land, labour, and capital)
will have to be raised substantially. Eight Sub-Programs will be pursued with the
following objectives namely;
 1. improved agricultural research and technology development;

2. better delivery of extension services ;

3. improved disease, pest and vector control;

4. enhanced productivity of land through sustainable management of soil and water

resources;

5. Efficient irrigation systems ;

6. Promotion of labor saving technologies through mechanization

7. Setting up of social enterprises as a mean of providing livelihood opportunities

Program 2: Improving Market Access and Value Addition.

Significant improvement in market access and value addition enhances farm production
and productivity. To improve market access and value addition, five (5) sub-programs
will be implemented with the following objectives;

1. Adherence to quality and food safety standards

2. Improved access to high quality inputs, planting and stocking materials

3. Increased participation in value addition activities

4. Expanded network of rural market infrastructure

5. Strengthened farmers’ organizations in organizational and financial management,

entrepreneurship and collective marketing

Program 3: Improved Enabling Environment.

This program focuses on removing constraints to private sector growth, supporting

opportunities that improve market efficiency and improving the incentive environment
 facing the private sector in the key market chains. One of the sub-programs that is to be
implemented includes strengthening of the agricultural statistics services and planning
and analytical services to provide timely and appropriate information to sector
stakeholders.

Program 4: Institutional Development.

The performance of the agriculture sector is challenged by the suboptimal structure of

the Office of the City Agriculturist, inadequacy of personnel and to some extent the level
of highly motivated technical staff to access needed external investment funds from
funding agencies and other government programs.

Generally, the Strategic Agri-fishery development plan is summarized in a matrix

indicated below:
The Goal : A Competitive, Profitable and Sustainable Agricultural Sector
Long Term Objectives : Rural incomes and livelihoods increased
Household food and nutrition security improved
Immediate Objectives. Productivity of land, labor and capital in crops, livestock and fisheries
sustainably enhanced
Markets for agricultural products developed and sustained
Increased profitability along the entire value chain developed

Sub-program objectives
Program 1: Production Program 2: Markets Program 3: Program 4: Institutional
Development
and Productivity and Value Addition Enabling
Environment
1.1 Enhanced 2.1 Improved capacity 3.1 Planning and Capacity of farmers
organizations functioning
contribution of for regulation and policy responsibilities
as local commodity
agricultural research to enforcement especially are undertaken in an champions enhanced
Creation of industry
sustainable agricultural in safety standards and efficient manner
clusters to increase the
productivity, quality assurance leading to improved empowerment of farmers
organizations/cooperatives
competitiveness, across crops, livestock formulation of
economic growth, food and fisheries policies, strategies,
security and poverty programmes and
reduction projects, more cost-
 effective
interventions and
increased efficiency
of public
expenditure.
1.2 Increased farmer 2.2Increased
access to relevant participation of the
information, knowledge private sector in value
and technology through addition activities and
effective, efficient, investment.
sustainable extension
services coupled with
increasing private
sector involvement in
line with government
policy.
1.3 Reduced losses 2.3 Expanded network
through improved of rural market
control of pests, vectors infrastructure including
and diseases appropriate structures to
improve post-harvest
losses.
1.4 Enhanced 2.4 Enhanced
productivity of land entrepreneurial capacity
through sustainable of existing farmers’
use and management organizations for value
of soil and water adding activities and
collective marketing
1.5 Water resources
developed for
agriculture on the basis
of sustainable irrigation,
water for livestock and
aquaculture.
1.6 Increased use of
labor saving
technologies including
appropriate
mechanization
1.7 Accelerated
production of selected
strategic enterprises on
the basis of
specialization
1.8 Farmers have
improved access to
high quality inputs,
planting and stocking
materials