AGRICULTURE Secretary Luis P. Lorenzo, Jr. distributed six livelihood checks to Bicol farmers amounting to P781,000.00 and commended farmers and local government units for their outstanding contributions to the agriculture sector during the Farmers and Fisherfolk Forum of Regional Cluster II -Southern Luzon Regions (Regions IV A & B, V) held at Great Eastern Hotel, Quezon City last February 13, 2004.

Some 500 farmer-leaders attended the forum with Secretary Lorenzo as the main speaker.

The livelihood projects that were funded under the Livelihood Enhancement for Agricultural Development (LEAD) program of the department and the recipient organizations were: Swine production, Capilihan Small Farmers Association of Juban, Sorsogon -P150,000.00; RIC training center, LGU and RIC of Caramoan, Cam. Sur -P350,000.00 (grant); Bangus fish cage, Banquerohan Resources Management Association, Legaspi City -P236,000.00; Cabbage production, Baay Multipurpose Coop, Labo, Cam. Norte; swine production, Layog RIC, Barcelona, Sorsogon; and Broiler production, Barangay I RIC, Daet, CNorte- P15,000.00.

On the otherhand, the Secretary assisted by Dr. Hector M. Sales, OIC Director of DA V awarded plaque of recognition to farmers who made commendable contributions to the sector namely: Maymatan Multipurpose Farmers Cooperative (Goa, CSur) as the Best Corn Cluster Organization; Laniton Pineapple Growers Association (Basud, Cam. Norte) Best HVCC Farmer Organization; Guerrero S. Canoy, Best Hybrid Rice Farmer-Entrepreneur; Rogelio Ibarbia, Best Hybrid Farmer; LGU Gubat in Sorsogon -Best LGU in Hybrid Rice Program; Rafael N. Moraleda (Daet, CNorte) Best Livestock Raiser-Entrepreneur.

Secretary Lorenzo in his address, pointed out that even with inadequate funds there are a lot more things that can be done. He cited the role of the LGUs in the realization of the food programs of the government as national agencies cannot provide them all the financial and technical assistance required. There should be cooperation and coordination of efforts toward a unified direction.

Also, the secretary said ‘we must learn to listen to the farmers and businessmen as to what is good for their region and what possible interventions can be made to address local problems.

Moreover, he said that in the modern approach to agriculture ‘we should study the food chain and know the issues in each chain and learn its solutions. He added that the first effort of clustering will not be meaningful if the players in agriculture will not participate and provide implementable solutions to issues at hand.

During the open forum moderated by Dir. Dennis B.Araullo, regional cluster II officer, the Bicol group of farmers raised the issue regarding the putting up of a feedmill as an answer to the problem of high cost of feeds which the secretary said will be studied for funding. Along this issue USEC Teresa Capellan informed the farmers about a livestock program being prepared together with Quedancor that involves a feed assistance package.

Another issue raised was for NFA to increase its buying price by P1.00 which the secretary promised to discuss in the next NFA council meeting.

After meeting the farmers, secretary Lorenzo also had a meeting with the provincial and municipal agriculturists, some mayors and governors in the cluster areas.

Meanwhile, the DA Regional cluster II conducted a planning-workshop on the setting of 2004 DA action programs.

Regional cluster II comprises Region IV -A CALABARZON and NCR, IV-B- MIMAROPA, V Bicol. (vfidaño)

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Source:
UMAsenso
ISSN-0911-2752
January-March 2004
Vol.13 No.1