Agri’s key role seen in reviving economy

AGRICULTURE will play a major role in the Marcos administration's economic recovery efforts, Go Negosyo founder Jose Ma. “Joey” Concepcion 3rd said Friday.

Many micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) are still trying to recoup their losses from the coronavirus pandemic, and Concepcion said the agriculture sector can help them to stay afloat.

With President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. temporarily taking the helm of the Department of Agriculture (DA), MSMEs, especially those who have taken out new loans to refinance their operations, are expected to see better days ahead, he said.

“Agriculture is key,” the former presidential adviser for entrepreneurship said during a virtual forum. “With the President putting greater focus here whether it's in the next six months or one year, it will really help.”

Go Negosyo has been trying to work it out with the DA to include MSMEs in the value chain as “sponsored growers for chicken or contract farmers,” among other initiatives.

“This network of big companies have created models which have embraced the farmers and that is what we want to push further,” Concepcion said.

“They have an all-inclusive business model and that is what we want to promote and even accelerate under the Marcos administration. So, agriculture is key,” he added.

Concepcion also said the government must sustain its infrastructure building program.

“Economic activity is critical at this point in time. The private sector, which drives the economy, which pays taxes to the government, has to grow. Because if we don't grow at levels which are expected, then revenues for the government will be lacking,” he said.

“For the Philippines to grow, it has to lay down the infrastructure to improve connectivity that will enable MSMEs to scale up. And of course, big businesses are also important,” he added.