The Bangsamoro Parliament’s Finance, Budget, and Management Committee has approved a P2 billion budget for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Agrarian Reform (MAFAR) for fiscal year 2025, marking a 9% increase over the previous year’s allocation of P1.9 billion.
MAFAR Minister Mohammad Yacob said the increased funding will support the ministry’s key programs aimed at boosting agricultural productivity, food security, and the welfare of farmers, fisherfolk, and agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
A key component of the budget is the continued promotion of the halal industry within the region. Yacob emphasized that the ministry will focus on increasing awareness among local farmers and fisherfolk about halal practices and certification. This initiative is part of the broader goal to strengthen the halal sector, which plays a significant role in the region’s economy.
The budget will also support MAFAR’s flagship programs, including the Basic Integration for Harmonized Intervention (BINHI), the Integrated and Sustainable Development for Aquaculture (ISDA), and the Land Distribution and Development for the Upliftment of the Poor ARBs Program (LUPA). Additionally, funds will be allocated to food security and nutrition programs, agribusiness support, fisheries adjudication, and sustainable development for agrarian reform beneficiaries.
Yacob noted that the budget would also provide crucial assistance to over 20,000 farmers across the region, including the distribution of rice seeds and other agricultural support.
With the new funding, MAFAR aims to further enhance agricultural practices, promote halal certification, and drive the economic development of BARMM’s agricultural sector.
