THE Department of Agriculture (DA) will sign a Memorandum of Agreement with the Provincial Government of Pampanga this December for the Agriculture and Fishery Extension System (Pafes) to anchor and localize strategies.
“Through this, we will pull our resources together. We will jointly plan, budget, implement, monitor, and evaluate projects. We want to commit for Pampanga as our counterpart the amount of P521 million as part of the Pafes,” Agriculture Secretary William Dar said during the launching of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund - Rice Farmers Financial Assistance in Guagua town.
Dar also said he initially talked with the Provincial Government to make Pampanga a showcase of modern technology in rice production and high-value agriculture.
He said Governor Dennis Pineda already committed the management of a five-hectare land to be used for precision agriculture in high-value crops, which farmers can go to learn modern farming techniques.
Dar also lauded the Provincial Government for its projects that are geared toward the development of agriculture.
“Poverty incidence in Pampanga is only 4.9 percent. In other words, the various programs of the province have been able to provide relief for the upliftment of the poor, including those in the agriculture sector. The programs are appropriate and directly uplifting the livelihood of the people,” he said. (PR)