What does AFMA mean in FARMING & AGRICULTURE

The Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) is a Philippine law which was enacted in 1997, aimed at modernizing the country's agricultural and fisheries sector. It seeks to increase productivity, profitability and competitiveness within the sector through various development strategies, such as improved access to technology, investments in research and development activities, financial reforms, legal reforms, infrastructure improvements, public services and other similar measures.

The primary objectives of AFMA are to promote sustainable agricultural growth and development, reduce poverty among rural populations by increasing farm productivity and incomes, ensure food security for the entire population, enhance regional equity in terms of agricultural resources utilization, improve access to markets for farmers' products, upgrade agro-industries through technological advancement, protect watersheds from overuse or degradation due to inappropriate agricultural practices, expand aquaculture production capacity nationwide and reduce post-harvest losses.

Technologies such as precision agriculture can be used to enable more accurate crop management practices that utilize fewer inputs while optimizing yields. This can help maximize resource efficiency while improving economic returns for farmers. Additionally, new technologies such as tissue culture systems are being developed which can aid in the propagation of high quality planting material quicker than traditional methods. Furthermore, mobile devices can be utilized to provide real-time information on weather patterns or market prices so that farmers have better decision making information when managing their farms.

AFMA provides a variety of financing options available for agricultural projects ranging from credit facilities from government institutions such as Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) or Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), grants from Department of Agriculture (DA) or Agricultural Credit Policy Council (ACPC), microfinance lending from Rural Banks or Cooperatives Banking System (CBS). It also includes investment opportunities through private sector investment promotion initiatives.

Food security refers to having access to sufficient safe and nutritious food at all times. Through promoting sustainable agriculture practices with increased productivity based on efficient use of resources via modern farming techniques; facilitate faster market access for farmers’ product; providing support services including agro-processing facilities; equipping farmers with appropriate climate change adaptation strategies; protecting watersheds from overuse or degradation due to inappropriate agricultural practices; promoting family farming; encouraging locally adapted organic agriculture systems – all these measures help strengthen national food security goals outlined by AFMA.

Yes it does. Under AFMA ,organic agriculture has been identified resolution No 216 issued by DA Secretary during Organic World Congress 2018 held Manila known as “Philippine Strategy on Organic Agricultures 2018-2022” .Under this strategy DA actively promotes ecological balance by encouraging locally adopted organic agriculture system that utilizes natural resources efficiently and sustainably .It supports through providing training sessions ,promoting sustainable marketing schemes , establishing laboratories funded by both TPPI & DOST etc.

The Technology Transfer Promotion Initiative (TPPI) is a full-range program initiated under AFMA aiming at transferring different technologies suitable for Filipino conditions but adapted according to specific contexts. It involves identifying strategic partnerships between universities/research organizations overseas involved in technology transfer activities with local partners who wish to acquire new technologies/knowhow in order further develop their own products/processes.

Smallholder family farmers have been identified as one group most benefitting from implementing policies under AFM specifically focusing on providing better livelihoods support services directed towards promoting sustainability while improving lives on rural communities.

Yes it does - Many international standards applicable towards agricultural modernization suchlike GlobalGAP certification scheme promoted across different countries worldwide are widely accepted as benchmarks related efficient usage resources & improved environmental protection .AFM imposes requirements towards satisfying such standards