Pamplona, Camarines Sur. To ensure food availability and sustain food production amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Adaptation and Mitigation Initiative in Agriculture (AMIA) in partnership with the Early Warning Bicol River Basin Project (BRB) rolled out the Plant Plant Plant Program of the Department of Agriculture. The BRB project is led by the Partido State University with funding support fom the DA.
Three farmers associations and 120 farmers are expected to directly benefit from the various vegetables and farm inputs distributed on April 20 this year in the AMIA Villages in the municipalities of Pamplona, Buhi, Gainza and Tigaon. Similarly, in the Bicol River Basin (BRB) areas, forty (40) Farmers in the municipalities of Minalabac and Baao received the same farm inputs on April 14th..
The PSU team, headed by BRB Project Leader, Dr. Ricky P. Laureta, led the distribution of High Value Crop (HVC) seeds to the farmer beneficiaries of the Bicol River Basin (BRB) Project at Del Rosario-Del Carmen, Minalabac and Sta. Eulalia, Baao, Camarines Sur. These communities are highly vulnerable to climate-risks due to its proximity to Bicol River.
“Nagpapalasalamat po kami sa DA RFO 5 at sa AMIA Project. Poon 2017, kami sa Cagbunga Riverside Farmers Organization digdi sa Cagbunga, Pamplona, Camarines Sur ay pirming natatabangan makabangon lalo na sa panahon kan mga unos, “claims Cecilia Quipayo, President of the association. With off-farm works now scarce and restricted , vegetable production will offset some of the needed foods by the community. Prior to the pandemic, the Association also received 900 heads of ducks. Protein-based foods are now available in the community thru egg production.
This undertaking is in response to the warning and call of DA Secretary William D. Dar thatthe threat of hunger is as challenging as the threat of COVID-19, hence, the need to bolster the food productivity and efficiency of the nation. (ASI/SBB)