It will be another productive year for the Department of Agriculture (DA) as Secretary William D. Dar urged all DA personnel to level up their game and roll-up their sleeves during the first flag-raising ceremony on January 6, 2020.
In his message, Dar emphasized the need for the DA family to come together and improve services to the farming and fishing sectors.
He added that the DA Central Office and the Regional Field Offices should think and act as one to fight poverty and hunger, particularly in rural communities.
He said that the “Ani at Kita” battle cry should always be in the hearts and minds of the DA family for them to deliver services more effectively and efficiently.
“To (level) up our game, act on time. Let us follow the “ease of doing business” principle and use it as guide and framework,” he said.
Dar reminded the DA family that documents and other important paperwork, whether approved or disapproved, must be processed quickly and acted upon immediately.
“Roll up your sleeves, at magtrabaho nang mas pursigido para sa ika-uunlad ng ating mga magsasaka at mangingsda,” he said.
Dar, who has been confirmed by the Commission of Appointments last December as Agriculture Secretary laid down the upcoming programs of the DA for the year including the Youth Agricultural Development Program which aims to encourage the young Filipinos to go into the business of agriculture.
“Millenials po ang future ng agriculture kaya maglulunsad ang gobyerno ng mga programa na may kaakibat na suporta para sa kanila,” he said.
Dar added that under the Youth Program, DA will launch start-up and scaling-up projects, as well as a financial assistance facility at zero percent interest, and payable in five years to motivate the youth to venture into various agriculture and fishery endeavors.
He also announced the launching of a National Soil Health Program under the Bureau of Soils and Water Management, which will establish a soil fertility mapping and soil health guide to farmers.
“Dapat lang naman na ang guide po ay manggagaling sa DA,” he explained.
In addition, the DA will kick-off an upland agriculture program to focus on agroforestry in hillside and mountainous agriculture areas, and a “big time” urban agriculture program utilizing hydroponics and vertical agriculture technologies for urban communities
The DA Banner Programs including rice, corn, high-value crops, livestock, and fisheries will be reshaped this year following the “New Thinking” approach and will focus not only on production, but on the whole value-chain process.
“Mas purisigido tayo na magtrabaho para sa ika-uunlad ng mga magsasaka at mga mangingisda. By this time, our hearts and minds are ready to improve our services to the farming and fishing sector,” Dar said.” ### (DA-AFID)
