QUEZON CITY (PIA) -- The Department of Agriculture (DA) concludes the celebration of National Farmers’ and Fisherfolks’ Month (NFFM) this May. This year’s theme is “Masaganang Agrikultura, Maunlad na Ekonomiya,” a reflection of the current administration’s plan to utilize the agricultural sector as a key contributor to the betterment of the Philippines’ post-pandemic economy. 

Under the leadership of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., DA has prepared a wide variety of programs and projects for farmers and fisherfolks across the country. 

Considered modern-day heroes, farmers and fisherfolks were honored during the month-long celebration. In one of his speeches, Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban reiterated the relevance and importance of agricultural workers’ role in achieving food security and resiliency. In addition, he also recognized the continuous significant contribution of the sector to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) despite the effects of the spread of COVID-19. 

He added that these workers were at the frontline in facing the drastic effects of the pandemic. 

“[N]ararapat lamang na maihatid sa kanila ang mas malaking oportunidad upang mapaunlad ang kanilang kabuhayan,” he said. 

Hence, the Agriculture Department has provided more than 1.178 million rice farmers support under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance amounting to P5.8 billion as of March 2023. 

Apart from financial assistance, the DA also extended fertilizer assistance and fuel discount vouchers to cushion the rising production costs.

Another popular project is DA’s Kadiwa market which provided farmers and fisherfolks an avenue to sell their local products, resulting in enhanced food mobilization and constant connections to farmers nationwide. 

During one of the NFFM celebrations, DA’s Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel De Mesa presented some agri-fisheries projects the department has launched in partnership with international funding institutions such as the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization.

• Adapting Philippine Agriculture to Climate Change (APA) aims to increase agricultural stakeholders' resilience in areas vulnerable to climate change.
• Philippine Fisheries and Coastal Resiliency Project (FishCoRe) looks after the improvement in managing the fishery resources and enhances the value of fisheries production in select Fisheries Management Areas (FMAs)
• Scaled-up Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) was established to focus on the augmentation of the farmer’s and fisherfolks’ access to markets and increase their incomes. 
• Mindanao Inclusive Agriculture Development Project (MIADP) is a project responsible for the 26 ancestral domains in Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and BARMM to sustainably increase their agricultural productivity, resiliency, and access to markets and services. 

Apart from these existing and new projects and programs, DA’s regional offices also provided weekly exhibits, free public webinars and seminars on modern farming, and free training – expanding their knowledge in agriculture and introducing them to new trends in the industry, cooking demonstrations, and distribution of seeds and seedlings, among others. 

For her part 2023 NFFM Chairperson Agnes Catherine T. Miranda notes the administration’s commitment to assist the country’s food heroes. 

“As we conclude the National Farmers’ and Fisherfolk’s Month, we do not cease to pay tribute to our farmers and fisherfolk,” she said. (MVMV, PIA-CPSD) 

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File photo.