Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar awarded a total of P388M-worth of agricultural support and interventions to farmers and fishers of the province of Cagayan, on May 20, 2022.
Part of the award was the P312 million (M) financial assistance and fuel subsidy under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance (RFFA) and Fuel Discount Voucher Program (FDVP). This will benefit 64,826 rice and corn farmers and fisherfolk in the province.
“This forms part of the P844.37M allotted to the agri-fishery sector of the Cagayan Valley Region under RFFA and FDVP,” Secretary Dar said.
In addition, different farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs) will receive machineries under the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund amounting to P69.2M, and livelihood assistance from the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources totaling to P6.5M.
During the awarding ceremony in Iguig, Cagayan, Secretary Dar recognized the hard work and sacrifices of the local farmers who to feed the Filipino people.
“We want to improve the lives of our food heroes. Sama-sama po tayo at pagtulungan ang pagpapabuti ng sektor ng pagsasaka at pangingisda,” he said.
Ironically, Filipino food producers remain the poorest sector in the country, with less or no food to eat.
As such, the agri chief encouraged the farmers to relay to him their needs, so that the government may craft efficient and long-lasting solutions.
The Secretary added that the Department of Agriculture has launched a directional plan to modernize and industrialize the farming and fishing sectors, which will guide the programs and projects of the next administration.
The National Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization and Industrialization Plan (NAFMIP) is not only focused on production, but considers the entirety of the food value chain system to ensure food security, improve nutrition, raise incomes, and achieve resiliency and sustainability.
“Tapos na po ang eleksyon pero tuloy-tuloy ang kampanya natin laban sa kahirapan at kakulangan ng pagkain,” he said. ### (Adora Rodriguez, DA-AFID)
