The recently conducted Davao Oriental Agri-Fisheries Summit 2023 was praised by Department of Agriculture Senior Undersecretary Domingo F. Panganiban as a ground-breaking effort to address the issues and challenges facing the province's agri-fisheries industry.

Usec Panganiban, who spoke at the event as the keynote speaker and discussed the National Agriculture Development Framework, said the summit "is a step in the right direction" noting how timely and significant the event was to further the cause of intensifying the efforts in reinforcing the agri-fisheries growth and development of Davao Oriental. He also complimented Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon for this gallant act in staging a province-wide event with her visionary leadership and pledged to assist her in her endeavors.

“I am supporting the activities that the Governor (Malanyaon) will undertake as far as the Province of Davao Oriental is concerned,” Usec Panganiban committed.

Keen on establishing a food-secured and resilient province with empowered and prosperous farmers and fishermen, the Provincial Government piloted the Davao Oriental Agri-Fisheries Summit to reinforce the fundamental system in promoting agricultural development by providing policy framework and support services needed by various agricultural sectors.

The summit was organized by the Provincial Agriculture Office under the direction of Governor Malanyaon with the goals of recognizing the important contribution and support of the farmers and fisherfolks in implementing the agri-fishery program in Davao Oriental, identifying the problems and concerns in terms of production and marketing, and fostering stronger ties between farmers and fisherfolks and the government, private sector, and other stakeholders.

Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon, has been outspoken about her desire to strengthen the province's agriculture industry, even naming it as one of the province's main economic drivers together with tourism. At the summit, she laid out her plans, strategies, and other important actions her leadership is taking to boost the province's agri-fisheries sector and address specific challenges and concerns about it in front of more than 600 farmers and fishermen coming from across the province, together with local government officials, stakeholders, and investors where she presented her Provincial Economic Strategic Direction, focusing on agri-fisheries development.

She emphasized how the government is taking substantial measures to help intensify the support provided to the local farmers and fishers. As a significant strategy, the Provincial Government has designed a farmer-centric sustainable agriculture framework by catalyzing a multi-stakeholder support ecosystem.

As for Governor Malanyaon, there is a need for first-hand validation and triangulation from the farmers and fishers, thus the summit was organized to gather and create significant inputs for this goal.

“This is the reason that this summit is organized. Gusto nako ipadayag sa tanan nga ang akong administrasyon magpadayon sa pagsuporta alang sa kalambuan sa sekta sa agri-fisheries. Akong giawhag ang tanan alang sa inyong aktibong kooperasyon sa mga programa nga akong gihan-ay karon ug sa umaabot nga katuigan (I want to express to everyone that my administration will continue to support the development of the agri-fisheries sector. I urge everyone for your active cooperation in the programs I am organizing now and in the years to come),” Governor Malanyaon stated.

Turnover of farm Machinery

A ceremonial turnover of various agricultural machinery worth a total of P27.74 million to farmers’ cooperatives and associations in Davao Oriental also took place during the occasion, under the supervision of the Philippine Center for Postharvest Development and Mechanization (PhilMech). The farm machinery includes hand tractors, floating tillers, precision seeders, rice reapers, mobile rice mills, and other equipment that will help advance the farming technology used by the farmers to yield more and better crops. The agricultural equipment, according to PhilMech Facility Management and Field Operations Division Chief Joel V. Dator, who oversaw the ceremony marking the turnover, would assist farmers in the province in earning greater profits by boosting production and lowering post-harvest losses.

He said that the turnover of farm machinery and equipment demonstrated the commitment of the national and provincial governments to aid farmers in order to improve their livelihoods and increase the productivity and competitiveness of the agricultural sector.

Along with the turnover ceremony, the summit featured a number of other events, such as a cluster-specific forum on agri-fisheries production and marketing, where individuals and organizations discussed a range of issues and challenges, and an exhibition of the various goods produced by farmers and fishermen in Davao Oriental.

Provincial Agriculturist Dr. Edito Sumile implied his profound delight with the summit's success, stating it exceeded all expectations and accomplished the goals established for the summit's pilot conduct. He said that his office would thoroughly assess every issue brought up during the summit to determine the best course of action to address them.

With the success of the Agri-Fisheries Summit 2023, Dr. Sumile said that the people of Davao Oriental should anticipate that it would happen annually since it is important to be informed about the present situation of the local farmers and fishermen in order to provide them the support they require.

The summit's initiatives and outputs, such as the Improved Pagkain at Kita (IMPAK) Program, which Governor Malanyaon plans to advance and carry out further, and the turnover ceremony held by PHilMech, showed how committed the government is to provide the farmers and fisherfolk the assistance that is necessary to achieve sustainable and inclusive growth in the agricultural sector. (PR-PIO DavOr| Photos by Oliver Alvite)