More than P592-million (M) worth of assistance and interventions were extended by the Department of Agriculture (DA) to increase the productivity and incomes of farmers and their families in Ilocos Sur.
The bulk of the assistance was comprised of farm machinery and equipment that were distributed to farmers’ cooperatives and associations (FCAs) by Agriculture Secretary William Dar during his visit to Sta. Maria and Vigan, Ilocos Sur, on September 25, 2020.
“These tools aim to improve productivity through efficient farming systems and technologies so you can continue to contribute to the growth of the agri sector in Ilocos region,” Secretary Dar told the hundreds of recipients during the distribution, where he was assisted by DA Ilocos Regional Field Office (RFO1) Officer-in-Charge Director Nestor Domenden.
Dozens of farm machinery and equipment, worth P55.85M, were awarded to 76 FCAs from 27 municipalities in the first and second congressional districts of Ilocos Sur, broken down as: 34 FCAs from 10 towns under the 1st District received P25.6-M worth of farm machinery and equipment; and 42 FCAs from 17 municipalities in District 2 received P30.1-M worth.
Other farmers and fisherfolk also received other forms of assistance to enable them to increase their productivity and incomes from rice, corn, high-value crops, poultry, livestock, fisheries, and aquaculture.
In all, Secretary Dar said Ilocos Sur farmers will receive other forms of assistance this year to enable them to increase their productivity and incomes, under the respective DA commodity program for rice (P462M), corn (P5.7M), high-value crops (P9.7M), and livestock (P50M).
A P65M fund has also been allocated for the construction of several kilometers of farm to market roads (FMRs).
On top of it, Dar also committed P90M for the establishment of a fisheries school and a food processing facility in the Municipality of Narvacan.
In his message during the distribution of DA assistance in Sta. Maria and Vigan, Secretary Dar told farmers and local government officials that such initiative is part of President Duterte’s agenda to increase the production of adequate, affordable, and nutritious food for all Filipinos, especially in these challenging times due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The agriculture sector continues to thrive and grow amid the pandemic, and this is because our frontliners – farmers, fishers, poultry, and livestock raisers, and food entrepreneurs – have not stopped working despite the risk of Covid-19, and so we’re here to help them,” Secretary Dar said.
He commended fellow Ilocanos for their industriousness and determination to rise above life’s challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic.
He said the Ilocos region ranks fourth as the country’s top regional rice producer, contributing roughly 10 percent to annual palay production, and fifth in terms average corn yield, at 5.87 metric tons per hectare.
“Hindi tayo magkukukang sa pagkain because we have farmers and fisherfolk who continue to work in the midst of this challenge under the new normal,” the DA chief said.
He assured them that the Duterte administration will continue to extend assistance to help farmers and fisherfolk improve their productivity and increase their incomes.
“Umasa po kayo na lahat ng tulong ay ipapaabot namin sa ating mga magsasaka at mangingisda upang tumaas ang kanilang ani at lumaki ang kanilang kita,” he said. ### (Adora Rodriguez, DA-AFID)
