The Department of Agriculture (DA) family is immensely encouraged with the positive 1.2-percent (%) growth of the country’s agriculture and fishery sector this third quarter (Q3) versus the same three-month period last year.
“Once again, this shows our resilience and sustained production performance despite the community lockdowns, traditional lean months and severe weather conditions, from July to September 2020,” said Agriculture Secretary William Dar.
“For this feat, we cannot thank enough President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the Cabinet economic cluster team led by Finance Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez, and our supportive legislators, honorable Senators and Representatives, who have afforded us a much-needed budget and financial backing,” the DA chief said.
“The 1.2-percent growth is indeed encouraging, despite the odds, as our programs are delivering initial favorable results in terms of increased palay and corn harvests — at 15.2% and 3.5%, respectively — and fish catch at 1.9%, in tandem with farmers’ groups, local government units and the private sector,” he added.
“We hope this growth will be sustained this fourth quarter and onto the dry season 2020-2021,” Secretary Dar said.
However, to prop up the poor performance of the hog and poultry sub-sectors — which was expected due to the lingering effects of the ASF and low demand for poultry products, respectively — the DA is implementing several measures.
Firstly, it will provide chicken and eggs as food aid, totaling P1,000 each, as part of the agency’s P4.5-billion social amelioration assistance to close to 900,000 non-rice farmers and fishers, under the “Bayanihan 2.”
Secondly, the DA will implement stronger quarantine and biosecurity measures — in close coordination with barangay and municipal officials — to effectively manage, control, and contain the lingering African Swine Fever (ASF).
“In all, we commend our “heroes” — the farmers and fisherfolk — who continue to persevere and toil to produce food on our table,” the DA chief said.
“Finally, the Duterte administration through the DA will continuously provide the needed support and interventions to further increase farmers’ and fisherfolk’s productivity and incomes, and subsequently propel the growth and competitiveness of Philippine agriculture,” he concluded. ### (DA StratComms)
