The Department of Agriculture (DA) pushes to pursue an inclusive and holistic approach to accelerate the transformation of Philippine agriculture under the One DA Reform Agenda key strategies.

In doing so, Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar took the lead in the distribution of the P159.6 million financial assistance and agri-fishery projects to Caraga farmers, fishers, and Local Government Units (LGU) on December 7, 2021, held in Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

“The agency envisions a food-secure Philippines with prosperous farmers and fishers. To do this, all programs and projects are aligned to the four pillars of the OneDA Reform Agenda: Modernization, Consolidation, Industrialization, and Professionalization will be in partnership with the LGUs,” said Dar.

Secretary Dar emphasized the vital role of the LGU’s in increasing productivity and profitability at the local level through agri-fishery extension services.

As the DA continues on its nationwide roll-out of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund – Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RCEF-RFFA) Program the DA Chief handed the Interventions Monitoring Card to the 1,844 Prosperidad rice farmers as they represent the 16,037 farmer-beneficiaries in the Province of Agusan del Sur. With a total amount of P81.3 million, eligible rice farmers tilling two hectares or less received P5,000 cash assistance that can augment farmers’ production needs.

Elmer D. Buquil, a rice farmer in Barangay San Rafael, Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur expressed his gratefulness for the RCEF-RFFA. “I will use the P5,000 cash assistance as additional working capital for my 1.5 hectares this cropping season. This is a big help for me,” said Buquil.

Intensified Strategy

Part of the key strategies is to intensify the post-harvest, processing, logistics, & marketing support among the farmers and fishers. With this, fifteen Farmers’/Fishers’ Cooperative and Association (FCA) was granted a working capital with a total amount of P9.7 million through the Enhanced Kadiwa ni Ani at Kita Inclusive Food Supply Chain Program. This will equip the FCAs as a reliable food commodity supplier to sustainably operate Kadiwa Retail Stores in their locality.

Hauling and delivery activities is now easier to CARCANMADCARLAN Agri-based Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CAMPCO) in Cantilan, Surigao del Sur, Sumilihon-Taguibo Farmers Association in Butuan City, Bayugan Achievers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (BAMPCO) in Bayugan City, and Local Government Unit of Cabadbaran City as each received one unit of refrigerated vans with a total amount P10.96 million.

BAMPCO Manager Grace P. Ostique said that the refrigerated van is a big help for the operations of their Organic Trading Post. “We are excited to use the vehicle as this will help us reach more communities to offer our affordable and fresh produce,” said Ostique.

CAMPCO also received the Bangus Production and Marketing subproject amounting to P16.55 million under the DA-Philippine Rural Development Project Enterprise Component.

On top of that, to increase harvest efficiency among Caraga rice farmers the DA Chief also lead the turnover of 14 units of recirculating dryers amounting to P37.3 million to Local Government Units (LGU) in the region. The facility will be operated by the LGU’s through their identified Farmers’ Cooperative and Associations (FCA).

The mobilization and empowerment of partners, the LGU’s and rice farmers with additional post-harvest facilities are bound to contribute to greater profits and deliver quality rice to consumers.

The recipients of the recirculating dryers are the following LGUs: Municipality of San Agustin, Marihatag, Lanuza, Madrid, Hinatuan, San Miguel, Tago, and Bislig City in the Province of Surigao del Sur. The Municipality of Prosperidad, Bunawan, Rosario, Talacogon, and San Francisco in the Province of Agusan del Sur and Cabadbaran City.

In addition, Kangyat Multi-Purpose Cooperative, a corn clustered organization in Talacogon, Agusan del Sur will gain more benefits from the commodity’s value chain through the P3 million worth recirculating dryer with generator set funded by the DA’s Corn Program. The cooperative took part in the Bayanihan Agri Clusters and now reaping the various interventions from free seeds and farm inputs, financial, mechanization, and market support.

Moreover, Secretary Dar handed the check to 174 coconut farmers amounting to P848,535 in the region under the DA-Philippine Coconut Authority’s various projects. 

Secretary Dar was assisted by Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications Noel Reyes, DA-Caraga Regional Executive Director Ricardo M. Oñate, Jr., Regional Technical Director for Operations Rebecca R. Atega, Regional Technical Director for Research, Regulations, and ILD Nicandro M. Navia, Jr., Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago B. Cane, and other government officials in the distribution of the various projects.