Negrense farmers urged to help ensure food security

THE Department of Agriculture (DA) is banking on the relentless hard work shown by local farmers in order to ensure food security in the country amid the prevailing coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic, an official said.

DA Secretary William Dar, who was in Negros Occidental Tuesday, December 8, for the launching and distribution of over P450 million worth of programs and projects for farmers, fisherfolk and local government units (LGUs) in the province, said the pandemic has been hitting the country for over eight months already and yet it remains uncertain as to when it will end.

Though the agriculture sector is not badly-hit by the global health crisis, Dar stressed the need for Negrense farmers to continue working hard in increasing their production to ensure that the huge demand for food during this time is met.

"Ang minimithi nating sapat na pagkain ay nandiyan hindi dapat tayo magkulang. [Sa] walong buwan na pandemya ay mayroon tayong pagkain [Our goal for food sufficiency is there so we should be sufficient. Eight months of pandemic and yet we still have food]," he said, adding that "we expect them to sustain their efforts as we are still in the middle of pandemic."

As the agency launched its cash and food subsidy for marginal farmers and fishers under the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act (Bayanihan 2), its top official announced that about 34,000 non-rice farmers in Negros Occidental will benefit from the program.

A total of about P170 million is allocated for fisherfolk and sugarcane, corn and coconut farmers in the province registered at the Registry System for Basic Sector in Agriculture (RSBSA) and has not received Special Amelioration Program (SAP) from other government agencies.

Each farmer-recipient will receive P3,000 cash and P2,000 worth of goods including chicken, eggs and rice.

The program aims to assist farmers and fishers affected by the health crisis. It forms part of the SAP that the national government is providing to the affected farmers.

Dar also led the turnover of about P220 million worth of farm machineries and equipment to at least 98 farmers cooperatives, associations and organizations in the province.

These interventions are funded under the DA's regular program and that of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech) Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) mechanization component.

"Pinamimigay natin itong incentives na ito para tuloy-tuloy ang food production natin [We are giving these incentives so our production will continue]," he said.

The DA chief, in his speech, underscored that the only sector posting a positive growth is agriculture.

He said a growth rate of 1.6 percent and 1.2 percent in the country's agriculture sector was recorded in the second and third quarter, respectively.

Dar attributed this development to the hard work and determination of local farmers despite the quarantine measures implemented in light of the Covid-19 threat.

"The justification is very simple, we cannot combat Covid without a secured food supply that is why interventions and support are given to our farmers and fisherfolk," he stressed.

Other assistance distributed by the DA in a program held at the Pana-ad Park in Bacolod City Tuesday were a P1 million grant to Multi-Sectoral Alliance for Development Cooperative as a Kadiwa exhibitor, P4.5 million worth of reefer van to Caridad Hog Raisers Association, and a total of about P2.5 million in Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (Amia) projects to various recipients like Central Philippine State University (CPSU), Municipal Government of Pontevedra and different farmers organizations.

In response, farmer-representatives of two recipient-associations have expressed gratitude to the government for the support it has extended.

Sammy Nacion, of the Manga Fisherfolk Association in Sagay City, thanked President Rodrigo Duterte for providing the assistance, which can really help farmers and fishermen like him.

Myrna Villa, of the Newton-Camingawan-Para Farmers' Association, assured Dar that they will protect the projects and maximize their use to help their members.

For his part, Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson thanked the DA and other government agencies for attending to the needs of the Negrense farmers.

As he underscored the vital role of farmers and fisherfolk in the province's progress, the governor assured that the Provincial Government will continue to help in enabling them reach their utmost potential.

Moreover, Dar along with DA-Western Visayas Regional Director Remelyn Recoter has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with CPSU officials for the establishment of nurseries for cacao, sweet potato and bamboo under Bayanihan 2 for high value crop development worth of P2.5 million.

The officials also forged an agreement with the Municipal Government of Binalbagan for the implementation of Cattle Feedlot Fattening Project under the Stimulus Package for Agriculture of the National Livestock Program (NLP) worth P5 million.

In the afternoon, Dar proceeded to Cadiz City for the turnover of two bridge projects totaling to P60.3 million under the Philippine Rural Development Program (PRDP).

The projects located in Barangay Caduha-an include the 40 linear meters Dalayapan Bridge worth P23.4 million and the 75 linear meters Sicaba Bridge worth P36.9 million.

Also present during the activity were other officials of attached agencies and bureaus of the DA, provincial government officials, mayors of different LGUs in the province, and some of the farmer-recipients, among others.