Agriculture Secretary William Dar and Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi forged a ten-year partnership starting August 6, 2020 for the formulation and implementation of a Renewable Energy Program for the Agriculture and Fishery Sector (REP-AFS).

The program will promote the use of cost-efficient renewable energy sources such as solar, wind, hydro, small-scale geothermal, and biomass for fuel and power generation.

Overall, the initiative will help reduce the cost of production in agriculture and fisheries and accelerate the sector’s modernization, mechanization, and agro-industrialization leading to food security, environment protection, and sustainable development.

“We are happy because the Department of Energy (DOE) is here as our partner in regard to ensuring higher level of food security for this country. The DOE will contribute much in reducing the cost of production for the farmers and fishers,” Secretary Dar said.

He also recognized the importance of sustainable energy in supporting food production, propelling food security, and enhancing rural development.

“This is a great opportunity for DOE to partner with the Department of Agriculture (DA) in ensuring food security and in the process, this will help not only food security but energy security. We will work together to really promoting the nexus, the connectivity of food, water, and electricity,” Secretary Cusi said.

Based on the memorandum of agreement, the DA and DOE shall strengthen and expand the implementation of existing renewable energy programs, projects, and technologies such as solar-powered irrigation system, biomass gasifier, and small-scale geothermal energy for the agri-fishery sector.

The collaboration is an output of the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases Food and Water Security Task Group chaired by Secretary Dar. ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin, DA-AFID)