MAMBAJAO, Camiguin (PIA)--To apprise the farmers and the local government units (LGUs) on agricultural programs, projects and services, the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office (DA)-10 under the leadership of OIC-Regional Executive Director Carlene C. Collado conducted an Information Caravan (InfoCar), in the province of Camiguin, October 6, here.
The caravan is an avenue for DA-10 and its attached bureaus such as the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the Bureau of Animal Industry (BAI), and the Philippine Crop Insurance, Corp. (PCIC) to bring their services closer to the farmers.
Through the caravan, DA-10 aims to update the agriculture stakeholders on the DA projects lined up for implementation in their respective areas.
To fuel agricultural development in the island-province of Camiguin, DA-10 has proposed various agri-livelihood projects for the five municipalities of the province for CY 2023.
The projects include provision of agricultural inputs and materials, farm machinery and equipment, veterinary drugs and biologics, livestock and poultry dispersal, capability training, construction of agricultural facilities and farm-to-market roads.
Such projects are funded under DA regular programs - Rice, Corn, Livestock, Organic Agriculture and High Value Crops Development, and the locally funded project, Special Area for Agricultural Development (SAAD) program.
DA-10 Regional Technical Director for Operations Carlota S. Madriaga encouraged the farmers to enroll in DA's Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and organize themselves as an association to gain better access to DA projects.
"The DA will only grant big ticket projects to government-recognized and accredited farmers' cooperatives, associations. I urge you to organize in your communities with the help of your respective LGUs," Madriaga said.
She also urged the farmers to practice balanced soil fertilization by using organic soil conditioners as a way of coping with the skyrocketing prices of commercial fertilizers.
For his part, Camiguin Board Member and Chair of the Committee on Agriculture, Louis S. Bollozos called on the farmers to take advantage of the caravan by communicating their queries and concerns to the DA.
He also bared the provincial government's plans for expansive promotion and development of organic agriculture in Camiguin in the coming years.
As a veterinarian, Bollozos urged the farmers to observe biosecurity measures in their farm to guard against the proliferation of ASF.
Highlighting the InfoCar is the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation's (PCIC) distribution of ASF indemnity to 12 beneficiaries.
As of October 3, PCIC has already distributed a total of P944K worth of ASF indemnity to 37 claimants in Camiguin.
DA-10 will cap its region-wide InfoCar, in the province of Bukidnon late this month. (DA-10/PIA-10/Camiguin)
