CAMIGUIN (PIA)-- Governor Xavier Jesus Romualdo unveiled an innovative tech-driven strategy to bridge agriculture and propel Camiguin towards self-sufficiency during his State of the Province Address on January 6. Romualdo began by addressing the economic challenges facing the province, particularly the 4.5% contraction in the agriculture sector. He emphasized the need for a long-term vision to make Camiguin self-sufficient in food production.

The governor also highlighted the devastating impact of the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak, recounting the depopulation of backyard farms and the subsequent confiscation and destruction of pig products.

"It was painful for all of us in the provincial government to have to depopulate backyards and farms, kill all those pigs, and confiscate and destroy work products. But we had to do it to stop the spread of ASF, and we saw our efforts bear fruit over the past year," Romualdo said.

With continuous efforts to act on the said crisis, Romualdo shared positive news that certain areas have now been declared ASF-free, while others are in the process of securing a Pink Zone declaration from the Department of Agriculture (DA). While this has been achieved, Romualdo still emphasized the need for continued vigilance to prevent the recurrence of ASF, particularly during the Christmas season when there were reports of illegal transportation of pigs and pork products into Camiguin.

Boosting agricultural production

Shifting the focus to livestock production, the governor provided updates on the operational free-range chicken multiplier farm and the upcoming completion of a multiplier farm within the first quarter of 2024.

He highlighted Camiguin's efforts in promoting organic agriculture, citing successful initiatives such as the organic technology demonstration and training programs for farmers on organic fertilizer production. The governor also stressed the importance of consistent Lanzones production, reporting an impressive average yield of 2.94 metric tons per hectare in 2023.

To bridge the gap between food producers and consumers, Romualdo introduced Kadiwa stores and Fit Centers, where the goal is to establish a network of interconnected Fit Centers and Kiosks for data collection and analysis, providing decision-support tools for farmers.

"I encourage our mayors to also establish Kadiwa stores in your municipalities and connect your farmers and fisherfolk to your consumers through the farmers information technology service centers and kiosks," he said.

Moreover, Romualdo urged young people to consider agriculture as a lucrative and rewarding career, saying, "We need to have ready replacements for our aging farmers in the province."

He highlighted the Young Farmers Challenge Fund of the DA, encouraging young entrepreneurs to take advantage of the competitive grant assistance program to start innovative and viable agricultural enterprises.

As Camiguin embraces a tech-driven approach to bridge agriculture and achieve self-sufficiency, Romualdo envisions a future where the province not only becomes self-sufficient but also sets a benchmark for agricultural innovation in the region.(RTP/PIA-10/Camiguin)