|
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Surigao guv, agri dep't address farming concerns
By Ben Serrano
SURIGAO CITY -- Recalling his days of planting fruit trees and vegetables in his grandparents' farm, Surigao del Norte Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers called on more than 100 farmers and farmer leaders in the province to be productive by engaging into scientific means of farming.
Barbers is the main speaker of the recently concluded Farmers's Forum held at the Provincial Convention Center here conducted by the Provincial Agriculture and Natural Resources Center.
The youthful governor distributed fertilizers to the farmer-participants who discussed issues and concerns about farming in the province.
Provincial Agriculturist Rogelio Pepito said the forum aims to show how farmers in the province can contribute in the needs of the national market and food sufficiency program of the government at the same time producing cheap and affordable agricultural products for local needs.
During his speech, Barbers said the forum provides venue for farmers to express their own views and suggestions to improve agriculture sector of the province.
Barbers said the role of farmers and fisherfolks role in improving the quality of lives of people in the countryside particularly the agriculture and fishery sectors cannot be quantified.
The governor said the farmers and fisher folk are the backbone of the country because it is the hands that feed the nation.
He also said the goal of the Arroyo administration is to create two million jobs in the rural sector through the development of at least two million hectares of new agribusiness land for agriculture and fishery.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) has set targets for Surigao del Norte by commodity by hectares for year 2005.
They said they are targeting the planting of coconuts in 1,950 hectares, bananas in 200 hectares, cassava in 1,000 hectares.
They also plan to set up fisheries in 93 hectares, bangus in 63 hectares, tilapia in 25 hectares and seaweeds in 15 hectares.
The DA said it expects to attain productivity enhancement, more efficient distribution and retailing linkages for the reduction of cost of wages and goods for this year.
Barbers said the biggest challenge is to find ways of increasing producer's income that then leads to affordable price for consumers.
In 2002, the Department of Agriculture's statistics showed that Caraga Region has insufficient food supply as it imports other agriculture products from other sources outside the region.
(June 7, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
|
