“I have the biggest respect and I am saluting all men and women of the Department of Agriculture (DA) for a job well done. Thank all of you from the bottom of my heart.”

This was the message of Agriculture Secretary William D. Dar during the opening ceremonies of the 124th Founding Anniversary of DA on June 20, 2022.

Despite the challenges that the agency faced for the last 2 years and 10 months, Secretary Dar stressed that the Department remained strong, turning every crisis into an opportunity.  He added that even with low budget, DA attained record harvest for rice and corn.

“We’ve confronted unprecedented challenges including the global pandemic, natural calamities and a disease that almost wiped out the country’s hog industry. We prevailed and we stood together. We believed and we’ve succeeded,” the Secretary said.

In his message, the agri chief announced that the Philippine agriculture was beginning to reap the benefits of a more efficient and modernized food system. He said it is high time to bring agriculture into the new era.

“Consumer spending at goods should increase because of continued gains of employments and outputs. Investments in agriculture should remain strong because of the increasing level of demands,” he said.

The Secretary also urged everyone to be prepared for the looming global food crisis.

“The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) issued a warning of multiple looming global food crises due to natural calamities, extreme weather events, economic shocks, lingering effect of Covid-19 and ripple effects from war in Ukraine, which are pushing millions around the world into poverty and hunger,” the agri chief said.

“Remain vigilant and use these times for the achievement of great growth. Let us remain on course behind the OneDA reform agenda,” he added.

Sec. Dar also shared the direction that the next administration should pursue.

“If we want agriculture to grow, we also have to include development on various infrastructures for irrigation, farm-to-market roads, and postharvest facilities. If this land holding system today continues in the future, no matter how strong and diligent your next Secretary in Agriculture is, it will always be a big challenge,” Secretary Dar said. ### (Kristel Joyce Merle, DA-AFID)